Rocktucky Living

Cookies

Gregory Gronbacher — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:09:00 GMT

Today seems to be a "cookie" day. I'll explain.

First, I got to taste the new Nutrilite Sports Nutrition Cookie. They come in two flavors, lemon and oatmeal cranberry. And I am happy to report that these are good. They taste like a home made cookie, aren't too sweet, and have 6 grams of protein and only 9 grams of sugar per cookie. I liked them, and I'd be willing to bet they'd pass the ultimate test ... kids with milk would probably like them too. Let me know what you think if you've tried them.

The second reason today is "cookie" day is that I am going to be picking up a Siamese cat after work. A friend from church put me in touch with an older woman who can't keep her Siamese cats any longer. I have two Siamese at home, and had a third until earlier this year. So, I agreed to provide a new home for one of her cats. I asked for the cat's name. It's Princess Cookie.

So, tonight, Princess Cookie gets both a new home and a new name.

Another LOC Story

Gregory Gronbacher — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:55:00 GMT

I've been trying to clean an area of my sink over the weekend. I have a soap dispenser with a metal base and its left an enduring stain and set of scratches on my white sink top.

In the past, I've used bleach, let it sit, and then washed it. But the last two times I've tried this it didn't work. Some of the marks and stain came off, but there was still a visible set of marks left.

So, I figured I would try LOC. I poured some concentrate on directly, let it sit for an hour. And it did the job. All the marks are gone. I really do love this stuff. I know that sounds like a commercial, but it really works.

Real Food

Gregory Gronbacher — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:34:00 GMT

Here's a question for you to ask yourself -- How much real food do you eat every day? By real food, I mean relatively, unprocessed, natural food.

I hate to admit this, but when I go food shopping, I peek in other people's carts. And while I try not to judge, I can't help but cringe when I see a cart filled with junk food, pre-made dinners, artificial soda, and so on.

I try to shop the perimeter of the grocery store -- produce, dairy, fruit, eggs, and so on. Its the inner aisles that have twinkies, hamburger helper, and boxed crackers that contain so many artificial ingredients they hardly qualify as food.

Besides the health benefits of eating real food, it will also likely ease your grocery bill. Yes, real food can be expensive, but its usually cheaper than processed boxed goods. Try cutting out the processed food on your next shopping trip and compare the bills.

Granted, we all cheat once in a while and give in to our cravings for processed cookies or a diet Coke. (And for these weak moments, we have Nutrilite, XS, and Trim Advantage as healthier alternatives) But to the degree we can limit these processed items and eat real food, is to the degree we'll be that much healthier and spend just that much less at the grocery store.

Your thoughts?

Creativity in Cooking and Business

Gregory Gronbacher — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:25:00 GMT

Whenever I post a recipe I usually get an email or two asking me how closely one has to follow the specific instructions and ingredients. People want to know if they can substitute items, change the amounts, or add something to the mix.

My response is always the same -- go for it! Cooking should be a personal creative adventure. I am not one to feel tied to the exact instructions in a recipe. Which is a good thing, because one of my favorite cookbooks is Norwegian, and it's very hard to find Reindeer meat in West Michigan. (Besides, I think Santa wouldn't be very pleased). My creative solution is to substitute New York Strip steak.

Your IBO business is a lot like cooking -- it calls for creativity, personalization, and the expression of your own style and way of doing things. Certainly, you should follow Quixtar's Business Rules. And I do suggest you consider our recommendations and advice as well as that of your upline.

But at the end of the day, how you sell to your customers, what you chose to focus your business on, and how you explain and express why you are involved with Quixtar needs to come from the heart and be a personal statement. And you'll likely be more successful sounding sincere and expressing your passion.

Owning your own business is a challenge that calls for creativity, just like cooking. Dare to alter the recipe once in a while and try new things on the menu. You'll be glad you did.

Barley

Gregory Gronbacher — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:22:00 GMT

I had three friends over for dinner on Saturday and tried a new recipe. It was easy to make and everyone liked it. Here it is, let me know how it turns out for you.

Butternut Squash Barley and Chicken
Serves 4

* 4 chicken breasts, cubed.
* 2 cups of barley
* 1 Can or box of butternut squash soup
* 1 cup peas
* 1/4 cup bell pepper diced
* 3 cloves of garlic diced
* Half an onion, diced
* 2 table spoons sage
* Sea salt
* 2 table spoons olive oil
* Turmeric or chilly powder to taste

1) Using a large pot, heat the onions, garlic, and salt with half the olive oil in the bottom of the pot.

2) When the onions turn translucent, stir in the butternut squash soup. Heat for 15-20 minutes.

3) Add in the cubed chicken *** and let cook another 15-20 minutes on a medium heat.

4) Soak the barley in slightly salted water for about 20 minutes, then drain and keep to the side.

5) Add the veggies (peas and peppers) to the soup and stir.

6) Add the remaining seasons and oil into the soup, stir on a low heat.

7) About 20 minutes before serving, add the barley and stir frequently. The barley should absorb much of the liquid so it shifts from being a soup to something more resembling a risotto.

Serve when ready, season to taste. Cooking time can vary depending on how much time you have available, just as long as you make sure the chicken is cooked completely. Enjoy!

Home Products

Gregory Gronbacher — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:53:00 GMT

Here's a question for Quixtar Independent Business Owners: How do the home products figure in your business?

With the growing emphasis on retailing, have the home products -- LOC, SA8, iCook, Dishdrops, Pursue, and eSpring played a role in your sales efforts?

I am extremely interested to hear what you have to say about the challenges, advantages, and your experiences, selling and using these products.

Frozen Vegetables

Gregory Gronbacher — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:56:00 GMT

I just finished cutting up some orange and yellow bell peppers to freeze. I love the look and taste of colored peppers in many dishes and by freezing pre-cut peppers, I can have them when I need them. (And yes, I used my iCook knives).

Many years ago when I first decided to become serious about health and nutrition, I bought fresh vegetables. Unfortunately, the best intentions sometimes end up wilted and rotten at the bottom of the refrigerator crisper drawer. I would always "over" buy, coming home from grocery shopping with more vegetables than I would use that week. The unused items would rot in a few days. Not pretty.

Then I got smart and began mixing fresh vegetables with frozen ones. Most frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh. And frozen vegetables are easy to use in soups, sauces, and a variety of dishes. Often, I do not need to thaw them first either. Just throw them in the pot with the rest of the ingredients.

Of course, I still buy fresh items too. Nothing can take the place of fresh kale, spinach, broccoli, and asparagus. But frozen vegetables have made eating healthy that much easier.

Drop by or plan ahead?

Gregory Gronbacher — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:49:00 GMT

Are you the type of person who likes unexpected company or do you prefer people to call ahead?

I grew up in Howard Beach, Queens, and my grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and many other family members lived within walking distance. Our house had guests -- family and friends -- dropping by unannounced all the time and we often dropped in unexpectedly at other family and friends homes too. Mind you, this was not an overnight visit, just an unscheduled stop to say "hi" and have a drink, share some coffee, and enjoy conversation.

Things have changed however. Some of the younger family members, now with homes of their own, prefer that you call ahead and let them know you are planning on stopping over. And they prefer you actually schedule something ahead of time.

I don't think there is a right or wrong way to deal with unexpected company. Personally, I love when friends or family drop-by unexpectedly. They should feel free to stop-in and say "hi". I'll offer them whatever food and drink I have at the moment. And I'll also feel free to say "now's not really a good time, let's do this some other evening".

What's your preference for unexpected guests?

Home and Environment

Gregory Gronbacher — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:40:00 GMT

Have you taken any measures to make your home "green"? Over the past two years, I've taken a few steps in that direction at my home. Here are some of the measures I've taken:

Added insulation
Bought energy efficient appliances
Switched to low-energy light bulbs
Started recycling
Made a conscious effort to reduce waste
Cut back on paper towels and paper goods (rags work really well for cleaning)
Switched to environmentally friendly cleaning products (Many of them Quixtar-Amway Global products)

I'd love to do more. My furnace is due to be replaced in the next couple of years. I've researched various alternatives to natural gas and oil. Unfortunately, these are terribly expensive. And I am limited somewhat since I live in a condo association. Its a little difficult to convince your neighbors to spend thousands to put solar panels on the roof.

Have you taken any measures toward a green home? If you have a moment, drop me a comment and share what steps you've taken.

Cleaning the Patio

Gregory Gronbacher — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:14:00 GMT

Spring has finally sprung here in West Michigan after a winter I thought might not end. We flirted with a few days in the 70s in late April, but the temps have only reached highs of the low 60s since then. And the long range forecast shows next week only being in the 50s! And this is mid-May.

Despite the weather, I am doing like so many others living in West Michigan do -- exercising hope and cleaning and preparing the patio and garden areas. My condo is a ground-level walk out, so I have a reasonable sized patio off my dining room. And there are some decent garden areas off the patio.

I have a table outside and enjoy serving dinner to friends there. I also love reading out on the patio on weekends and weeknights.

Unfortunately, my patio has a northern exposure, so it stays somewhat cool and damp. And cool and damp mean mold. I am using L.O.C. in a spray bottle to clean off the furniture, table, and other outdoor "stuff". I've even used it to scrub the concrete on the patio. It doesn't hurt the lawn or the gardens so I feel better using it than bleach or other harsh cleaners. And it gets the job done.

Next week, I am having a wood deck installed right over the concrete. Nothing fancy, just a slightly elevated wood floor. I figure the wood will be warmer than the concrete and will be easier to keep clean. I think it will look nice too. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Dining Room Tables

Gregory Gronbacher — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:22:00 GMT

I had an interesting conversation with some guests the other evening and I thought I would share and ask for input from my readers. The conversation revolved around the dining room table, both figuratively and literally.

One of my guests told me that she and her family never use their dining room table, having a table in the kitchen where the family eats all their meals. Her dining room and its table are used only at holidays. Another guest then raised the subject of setting the table. The group was divided over whether setting the table for a dinner party was necessary, fun, or simply a chore that went unnoticed.

My condo isn't that big. I have one table and its in the dining area. I can seat 6 people maximum. And when I have company for dinner, I love going all out and setting the table. For me, its like art -- the table is a blank canvas where I can experiment with ideas to make the dinner fun and more enjoyable. I put out matching napkins, place mats, candles, all the glassware, and sometimes even name cards.

Do you use your dining room? Do you even have a dining room? And when you have company for dinner is it paper plates or your best china? And what are your thoughts about table settings? Feel free to share.

Saving my purple shirt

Gregory Gronbacher — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:52:00 GMT

I have a bluish-purple dress shirt I wear to work every so often. A few weeks ago I noticed a stain near the front pocket. I had no idea what happened or what stained the shirt.

I've been using SA8 since I started working at Quixtar/Amway Global four years ago. I've always liked the results. I find that the commercially bought laundry detergents actually sped-up the wearing out of my clothes, and half the time didn't get them that clean either. I would notice small stains and dark marks near the cuffs of my pant legs and around the pockets. When I started using SA8, these went away and my clothes seemed to last longer.

What I want in a laundry detergent are the following things -- 1) that it work, 2) that it not cost an arm and leg, and 3) that it is environmentally friendly or green.

A few years ago, I tried Ecover, a European line of green cleaning products. And I will say, this stuff is really good. Its hard to find though, I had to buy it at a local health and natural produce store since its not sold in the larger box stores. I liked Ecover because it is a truly green line of home care and laundry products. However, it costs more than SA8 and LOC and after trying them side by side for a while, I prefer our stuff. I know that sounds self-serving because I work for the company, but its true. Our stuff simply worked better and cleaned better. And our laundry line, SA8, was superior in every way.

Our cleaning products were green before green was popular. SA8 contains no phosphates. Its gentle on my clothes. Its concentrated and isn't overly expensive. And it works.

Now, returning to my purple shirt. I used the liquid SA8 stain remover, let the shirt sit over night. Then I washed it. I had to wash it twice and I was careful not to dry the shirt since that would have set the stain. As usual, SA8 did the trick and my purple shirt was saved.

Have you tried SA8? Are you a regular user? Any complaints? Comments? Let me know what you think.

Rocktucky Chef becomes Rocktucky Living

Gregory Gronbacher — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:41:00 GMT

I'm excited to share with you my updated blog. As I mentioned in an earlier post from a couple of weeks ago, my blog is expanding its focus. As Rocktucky Chef, I focused on food, entertaining, nutrition, and related these topics to some of Quixtar/Amway Global's products such as iCook.

Now, as Rocktucky Living, my area of concentration has grown to include all things Home Related -- food, entertaining, cleaning, housekeeping, decorating, design, laundry, and so on. This will allow me to mention some of our other products, like SA8 and LOC, and others.

Anyone who knows me well or who has been reading my blog for a while, knows that home is extremely important to me. I'm passionate about having a peaceful sanctuary where I can escape from the crazy world we live in. And I love entertaining, home improvement, and the domestic arts.

In the weeks and months ahead, I hope you'll keep reading and join the conversation as we talk about any and all topics related to home and living well. Feel free to suggest topics, ask questions, and connect my ramblings to issues related to the business.

Given that I'll now be writing about laundry, cleaning, cooking, and so on, I thought you might like a little tour of my "laboratory". So, it's my pleasure to invite you over to my place for a tour. I'm pleased to give you a glimpse of where my blog posts derive their inspiration. My two bedroom condo is modest, neat, and very peaceful. Its not a mansion or anything fancy, but its home. So, come on in, take off your shoes, and stay a while!

The Challenges of Healthy Eating

Gregory Gronbacher — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:20:00 GMT

I've been committed to healthy eating for over a decade now. I've made real progress in increasing my daily servings of fruits and vegetables, I've cut back on bad fats, nearly eliminated trans fats, and have cut back on red meat and other foods not to be eaten in excess. And I am pleased with the health results, although I would like to lose a little more weight.

There are challenges to eating healthy. One challenge is time -- most healthy meals require preparation and time, and the temptation is always to opt to something fast, but unhealthy. However, with a little planning, slowing down the pace of life, and taking advantage of vegetables that can be eaten raw as a snack and easy to make salads, this challenge can be met.

Another challenge is taste, or perhaps "perceived" taste. As you know, I have people over for meals a lot. And unfortunately, beef loaded with fat and potatoes slathered in cream are more of a crowd pleaser than kale, beans, and broccoli served with fish or lean chicken. I watch as my guests pick their out the tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, peas, and other "offending" items from their salads and side dishes. Unfortunately, they tend to pick out the healthy stuff. As their host, I don't make a fuss, but if I were their mother, you could bank on me scolding them.

I love the taste of healthy food and know many people who do. And healthy food can be creatively prepared to taste good. I love steamed kale with garlic and lemon juice. I love beans in soup, salads, and as side dishes. And there isn't a vegetable that I won't eat. The creative, tasteful uses for whole grains, vegetables, and fruit are endless.

How do you overcome the challenges to healthy eating? How do you deal with fussy guests? And what strategies are you taking to eat healthy and see that your family does too?

A step toward great taste

Gregory Gronbacher — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:03:00 GMT

I blogged a while back about how we improved the taste of our meal replacement and protein bars. Now, I am happy to report that I've tried the new Nutrilite Sports Nutrition energy bars, and they really taste great. So far, I've sampled the Vanilla Pretzel and the Peanut Butter Pretzel, and they both are fantastic. And not bad with 14 grams of protein each!

I'm really glad to see that we are releasing food bars and energy bars that actually taste great.