Here’s how the experts do it:

Now that’s probably how your favorite steak restaurant does it. But you probably want to cook it on the grill. That’s what we’ll be talking about today. First, you want to buy a great steak. There are three I would recommend for grilling.

1. The sirloin. It’s a nice lean cut, but sometimes that means it can be a little tough. Ask your butcher. If it’s tender, rub it with a little oil, sprinkle on some salt and pepper, and get your grill really hot. If you have two sides to your grill, it’s great to have one area smoking hot, and another area at medium.

Your steak will be about an inch thick. Cook the steak 1½-2 minutes on each side for rare; 3 minutes on each side for medium and about 4 minutes on each side for well done. If well done, or once the steak is dark on both sides, move it to the cooler part of the grill.

If the sirloin steak is a bit tough, marinate it first. There are many marinade recipes online. Once it’s been marinaded, take it out and dry it, then proceed with the grill.

For all steaks, try to under-cook them a bit, because they will continue to cook while they are resting. And you must rest them for ten minutes. That will allow the juices that want to pour out to absorb back into the meat, ensuring it stays nice and moist.

2. The T-bone and the Strip steak. These are definitely going to be tender. A technique I learned that works well for me is to and rub steak on both sides with a cut clove of garlic, then salt it on both sides. Put it in the fridge on a rack. The salt will melt and be drawn down into the meat. The surface of the meat will be nice and dry and ready for the grill. Take the steak out a half hour or so before grilling to come to room temperature. Then grill as above, but with these timings:

Your steak will be 1 1/2 inches thick or so. Give it 5 minutes on each side for medium; 1 minute less each side for rare; and 1 minute more for well done. Rest for ten minutes before serving.

3. Filet Mignon- the prince of beef. This steak is so beautifully tender that a child could cook it. I like to use the salt and garlic method on these as well. Then cook them exactly like the T-bone. Rest for ten minutes before serving. This leaner steak benefits from a flavored knob of butter placed on top just before serving. You can find many recipes unline for flavored butter for steak. Here’s the classic:

Beurre Maître d’Hôte: Combine 1/2 cup butter with 1 Tbsp. minced parsley and 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Of course, MagicKitchen.com sells Filet Mignon online. This steak is restaurant quality and if cooked using the techniques above,  utterly scrumptious.

Melody, MagicKitchen.com Blogger

You’ve been looking forward to your retirement for years; all that free time to do what you want to do for once! But all too often, after the first joys of sleeping in and doing nothing much all day, boredom sets in and you begin to look for things to keep you busy. Here’s a list of the top ten retirement activities.

1. Start a part-time business. Start a senior’s exercise or yoga class, buy a hot dog cart, or go to craft shows and sell that beautiful craft you’ve been making.
2. Start a garden. There are many sites to get you started. Google “gardening in (yourstate)” to find them. Here’s an example of one in California: California Gardens – The Year Round Gardening Site
3. Start camping. You don’t need a big motor home to do so, instead purchase or rent a camper van. MagicKitchen.com has delicious foods for camping. 
4. Find a retirement job that you can work at temporarily as a fun job. (Greeter at Wal-Mart, drive a delivery van, be a bartender). Here’s a good resource: www.seniorjobbank.org
5. Travel!! Now’s the time to get out there and see the places you always wanted to see. There are any number of tour companies that will allow you to travel at your own pace and comfort level.
6. Tutor or mentor students. There are many young people out there who would benefit from your knowledge and experience.
7. Read. Now you have time to read all those wonderful novels you may have put aside for lack of time. Go to the library to borrow books or just to get ideas on what to read.
8. Volunteer. If you’re financially secure, you might think about volunteering part time. It will make you feel great!
9. Go back to school. Maybe you wish you would have gone on to get that masters degree. Or you didn’t get to college at all and want that experience. Nothing could be more mentally exhilarating. Even learning a new language is a wonderful way to keep your mental facilities in good shape.
10. Set yourself an athletic goal- train to run a marathon, swim a mile, get a black belt, walk a mile a day.

We hope you’ll enjoy and take advantage of these ten retirement activities. Here are more!

Melody, MagicKitchen.com blogger

Counting down the New Year with your favorite friends usually includes a few tasty treats and a glass of bubbly. Enjoying special times while having to watch your kidney diet can be a challenge, but thanks to DaVita® dietitians, you can serve up some mouthwatering snacks and still eat renal-friendly foods.

When speaking with people on dialysis about their renal diet, many times the focus is on what cannot be eaten. There are, however, many delicious foods that are perfectly acceptable on the dialysis diet. The trick is finding ways to prepare these foods so that you don’t feel deprived. DaVita.com has wonderful, kidney-friendly recipes that focus on the “what you can have.” Each week DaVita dietitians share their personal stories and provide tasty selections for you to enjoy. The best part is if you’re cooking for others who are not on dialysis, they’ll be able to eat the same foods as you and not think they’re eating “diet” food because it’s all so tasty.

As you begin a new year and you start making your resolutions, please remember to visit the recipe section of this website for menu selections designed to keep your lab results where they need to be. Remember, in addition to eating the right foods, portion control is important, as well as discussing your food choices with your doctor or dietitian.

We’ve planned the menu for your New Year’s gathering with 10 easy-to-follow appetizer recipes along with a comprehensive grocery list to help you enjoy this festive time of year.

Let your family and friends know there’s a wealth of renal-friendly recipes right at their fingertips at DaVita.com.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year appetizer menu

Appetizers

• Artichoke Relish on Toasted Pita
• Brie and Cranberry Chutney
• Chicken Nuggets with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
• Snack Mix
• Shrimp Spread with Crackers
• Sugar and Spice Popcorn
• Sweet ‘n’ Sour Meatballs

Beverages

• Champagne Punch
• Party Punch

Happy New Year appetizer grocery list

Baking Goods

• canola oil
• olive oil
• grape jelly, 6 ounces
• popcorn, unsalted (to make 11 cups)

Beverages

• 1 bottle champagne
• 12-ounce can 7 UP®
• 8 ounces cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup liquid or frozen fruit punch concentrate
• 1 liter diet lemon lime soda

Bread, Cereal, Crackers and Pasta

• 7″ pita bread rounds
• low sodium crackers
• 24 matzo cracker miniatures (or other low sodium crackers)
• 1 box low sodium cornflakes
• 1 box corn cereal squares
• 1 box rice cereal squares
• unsalted tiny pretzel twists
• unseasoned bread crumbs

Dairy and Nondairy

• grated Parmesan cheese
• 8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese
• 8-ounce wheel of Brie cheese
• small carton liquie nondairy creamer
• 8-ounce carton sour cream
• margarine
• unsalted butter
• 2 eggs

Frozen Foods

• 1 pint sherbet lemon or lime flavor
• ice

Fruit

• 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries
• 1 lemon
• 5 strawberries, stems attached

Meat

• 1 pound boneless chicken breasts
• 1 pound ground turkey (7% fat)
• 2-1/2 ounces cooked shrimp

Seasonings and Spices

• Dijon mustard
• Heinz® bottled chili sauce
• honey
• sugar, or Splenda® granular
• brown sugar, or Splenda® brown sugar blend
• ketchup, no salt added
• mayonnaise
• Tabasco® sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• black pepper
• garlic powder
• ground ginger
• ground nutmeg
• ground cinnamon
• allspice
• Mrs. Dash® lemon herb seasoning
• onion powder

Vegetables

• 2-ounce jar diced pimento
• 2 green onions
• 1 medium onion

- Reprinted with permission by DaVita Inc.

- Source from www.DaVita.com

First and foremost, be careful this holiday season!

Every winter, Americans spend about $450 billion on food, gifts, decorations, and other holiday wares. But how many of these dollars are spent frivolously, even foolishly? The average American spends more than $20 on holiday gifts for pets. Don’t get me wrong, I love my dog! But I don’t buy him Christmas presents (or birthday presents). I don’t think he even notices, and there’s money in my pocket for more important things.

Save on Postage: Americans spend $20 billion to mail cards, letters and packages every holiday season. Why not send gift certificates? With online shopping, people can get what they really want! And for much less postage.

Create a Budget and Stick to It
Holiday expenses can add up quickly, and one way to keep the financial damage to a minimum is to create a budget and then track spending. A budget should include the amount the family plans to spend on food, travel, incidentals and even a price limit for each person on the gift list.

Trim the List
When times are tight, whittling down the shopping list can save a lot of money. Aside from cutting the list down to only the closest of friends and family, some options include only giving gifts to children, setting generally accepted limits on what family and friends can spend and drawing names for gifts among family.

Only buy for the kids.
Adults really can buy the things they want, and all too often, the gifts they get are tossed in the closet. How often do we say,”Christmas is for the kids!” Give the adults gift certificates in prearranged sums, so they can get what they want.

Don’t Shop for Yourself
All of those holiday deals make it easy to adopt a “one for me; one for you” mentality. Set a rule that you’ll only shop for the people on your list – and not yourself. The pay off: less stuff in your house and more money in the bank.

Don’t forget the people who really need your thoughts. FindtheMeaning.org says,

The average American currently spends about $1,936 every holiday season. With a few minor adjustments, we could all save some extra cash and send it to someone in need.

If we all gave $130 out of that $1,936, we could end hunger for a year. For $2.13 annually, we could actually save the rain forest. And for $43, we could give every man, woman, and child in the world clean water for at least ten years, eliminating 35.75 million deaths.

Imagine what a holiday season like that would look like.

Melody, MagicKitchen.com blogger

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or just enjoy all the festivities this time of year, our renal-friendly brunch menu and tasty recipes will make this holiday season more delightful.

Many times people on a dialysis diet either feel they must deprive themselves of yummy holiday foods in order to keep their lab results in line, or decide to forget about their renal diet altogether this time of year. The good news is indulging in delicious foods doesn’t have to mean you miss out or go overboard. DaVita.com has asked our DaVita dietitian team to put together some holiday favorites for those on a dialysis diet as well as those who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are not on dialysis. (Naturally, portion control is advised, as well as discussing your holiday menu with your doctor or dietitian.)

Because you may want to host a holiday brunch for family and friends who are not on a renal diet, these recipes are low in sodium, phosphorus and potassium, but high on flavor. No one will ever know the foods you’re serving are renal-friendly unless you tell them. If you’re invited out for the holidays and need to bring a dish, you’ll be able to share a tasty treat with fellow party-goers and know it adheres to your dialysis diet. By limiting portions of higher protein foods, these recipes are also appropriate for those with chronic kidney disease who are not on dialysis.

We invite you to try the scrumptious recipes on our brunch menu. We’ve made it easy for you with a comprehensive grocery list and easy-to-follow recipes. Happy holidays.

• Menu
• Grocery list

- Reprinted with permission by DaVita Inc.

- Source from www.DaVita.com

Written by DaVita Social Worker Arlene Antonoff, LCSW, BCD

The holiday season is here, along with the anticipation of seeing family and friends, exchanging gifts and sharing traditional foods. Movies and television programs will be showing holiday specials. Stores, shops and offices will be playing festive music. The expectation is that this should be a joyous, even magical time of year, which it can be if you pay attention to your emotional needs.

Time constraints

For many people with kidney disease who are on dialysis, the holidays may remind them of happier times when they didn’t have to think about their health. Between trying to avoid tempting holiday foods and not having enough time for shopping, visiting and all the other things that take up time during the holiday season, some people may resent that they must be on dialysis. While the time it takes to dialyze may be perceived as a burden during this busy season, and avoiding favorite holiday foods may make you blue; try to remember that staying on dialysis for your full treatment and sticking to your dialysis diet will help you feel your physical best. When your blood is clean through adequate dialysis, it helps combat the physiological reasons of depression that can occur with people on dialysis.

Financial strains

Money is another source of holiday depression. The pressure to spend more money than we have to buy gifts for those around us can contribute to feeling down. Wanting to buy expensive presents, but not being able to afford them due to medical expenses, or being on a fixed income can make some people feel bad about what they have not achieved in life. Setting a realistic holiday budget and remembering that “it’s the thought that counts” can relieve stress and help us share the joys of the holidays. Being thoughtful by means other than financial can be a true gift for the holiday season.

Loneliness

The traditions and nostalgia of the holidays are often reminders of those dear to us who are no longer with us. The holiday hype can also contribute to feeling that “everyone has a loving family to be with except me.” Loneliness can be especially present at this time of the year. Remember you are not really alone. Talk with the people at your dialysis center and share your feelings. You may find you’re not the only one with these feelings. If you feel especially down, talk with your social worker who may provide some helpful insight.

Tips for avoiding holiday stress

The mixed emotions that can come with the holiday season are experienced by almost everyone, even people who don’t have renal disease. The true challenge is to prepare for the holidays so that your emotional needs are considered and nurtured. Planning how you will spend the holidays, with whom, and how you will budget your expenses can reduce anxiety and depression and increase the possibility of having a positive experience. The following recommendations are designed to increase your joy and decrease your stress:

• Plan ahead – If you don’t have someone to spend the holidays with, consider volunteering your time at a shelter or inviting someone new to spend the day. Take a risk and reach out to start a new friendship, ask a current friend to go for a walk or meet for coffee.  There are many free or inexpensive activities available, such as going to a museum, concert, park or the beach. Many places of worship offer special holiday activities and opportunities to interact with others.
• Get enough sleep, exercise and continue to eat healthy – Something as simple as going outdoors for a breath of fresh air or taking a short walk (although longer is better) can shift a bad mood to a good mood and can reduce stress. The colder weather and shortened daylight hours also affect mood, so be sure to get enough sunlight—and remember sunscreen. The recovery community is active during the holiday season because of the recognition of the stress and temptations during this time. Take advantage of community support programs to help keep you on your diet or program.
• Decide what might make you feel good – Give yourself a gift this holiday. Phone a friend or relative, curl up with a good book, watch your favorite movies or television programs, prepare a special meal and invite someone over. These are things that can lift your spirit. Again, volunteering or offering to help someone else can be an incredible gift for the giver as well as for the receiver.
• Set realistic goals for yourself – Budget your funds wisely. Most people really do appreciate the thought that a sincere, handwritten note provides. Take it easy on yourself, too. Don’t try and overdo it. Decide what’s most important and attainable and focus on that.
• Share your thoughts and feelings – Whether it’s a friend, colleague, professional counselor or spiritual support, talking and expressing your feelings can brighten your holiday season.

- Reprinted with permission by DaVita Inc.

- Source from www.DaVita.com

Summer is sadly coming to a close, but there’s time for a few more picnics. Here’s my idea of the perfect picnic hamper:

1. First, no need for a basket or hamper, there are some great coolers and icechests out there with wheels, use one of those!
2. You’ll want a main dish, a side dish, a dessert and something to drink.
3. Here are some suggestions for mains:
   • MagicKitchen.com Verdura Gourmet Artisan Flatbread with Kalamata Olives
   • A sturdy bread like a marble rye, Irish Soda bread, multigrain or a baguette sliced in half, Slathered with butter or margarine, mustard or mayonnaise and a meat of your choice. Take thinly sliced tomatoes and cucumbers along in separate containers to add to the sandwiches at picnic time (if you add them too early, the bread will get awfully soggy)
   • Fried Chicken! Or for a more healthy version, try this Oven Fried chicken recipe from Delish.com
   • Grape tomatoes, Mediterranean olives, cucumber slices and feta cheese with a slice of crusty whole-wheat bread.
   • Another recipe from delish.com: Vegetable Hoagies.
4. For Side dishes,

• This sounds yummy- Herbed Walnut Potato Salad from All recipes.com
• How about this healthy Corn and Green Bean salad from Diabeticliving online? (Diabetic recipes are often some of the healthiest around for everyday living too!)
• Guess it’s ’cause I’m starting to watch my weight, but weight-watchers.com has this delicious Tomato, Basil and Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad.
• Cheddar Cornmeal Biscuits with Chives from eatingwell.com

5. For desserts:

• Anything off the MagicKitchen.com dessert page, but I’m here to tell you that  the panna cotta is to die for.
• Whatever kind of fresh fruit is in season. Nothing better than fresh fruit.
• go to your favorite local bakery and get some soft chewy cookies.

6. To drink:

• First, make sure there’s a designated driver if the drinks are alcoholic. Light beer, coolers or wine are appropriate, but there are lots of non-alcoholic drinks that are delicious too!
•  About.com has 10 options right here!* Best Lemonade
  * Boston Iced Tea
  * Brazilian Lemonade
  * Ginger Iced Tea
  * Lime Mint Iced Tea
  * Strawberry Lemonade
  * Thai Iced Tea
  * Iced Almond Coffee
  * Tips for Making Iced Coffee
  * Watermelon Lemonade Recipe

7. Bring along a comfy blanket and some cushions to sit on (and some folding chairs for the older folks)

8. Don’t forget to pack any cutlery you’ll need, whether it’s plastic or not, along with plenty of napkins and a few garbage bags. Pick up after yourselves, and enjoy your day!!

Melody -MagicKitchen.com Blogger.

It’s that time of year where MagicKitchen.com is changing the menu up a little bit. We’re looking at adding a few items and taking a few items off.

We know what we want to pursue… but what would you like to see added or subtracted?

For example, I want to see them add my  beans and sausages dish:

Here’s the way I make it for a fast supper:

For 4 servings:

1 carrot, diced

½ onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, diced

2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 -8 oz can tomato sauce or 6 oz of V8 juice (a variation we tried that I liked that also saves calories)

2 to 4 Italian sausages, raw, sliced

½ tsp thyme

Sauté the carrots onion and garlic till soft, or just cook them in a little water in the microwave to save calories. Heat oven to 350, spray a casserole dish, stir everything together and cover. Bake for 35-40 minutes until bubbly.

Let us know what you’d like to see!