Ask KHurly Girl

Need help with relationship problems? Problems with friends, family, or on-the-job issues? KHurly Girl provides solid, down-to-earth personal advice. Like a good friend or simply as a caring soul, she will be straightforward and call it like she sees it!

You can email your questions to lets.parlez@gmail.com with the subject line "Ask KHurly Girl." The most interesting letters will be posted on Let's Parlez.

What's For Dinner?

Recipe of the Month: Baked Salmon with Tomatoes, Spinach and Mushrooms (See www.kraftfoods.com)

Prep time: 10 mins, Cook: 25 mins, Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 4 - 4 oz. salmon fillets
• 2 cups chopped spinach
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1/3 cup Kraft Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette Dressing

Directions:

1. Place salmon fillets, skin sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
2. Mix remaining ingredients until well blended; spoon over salmon.
3. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or until salmon flakes easily when tested with fork. Yield: 4 servings

Substitutes: Use red snapper or orange roughy fillets in place of salmon.

What did KHurly Girl think about this dish? I loved it! Very flavorful and easy to prepare. After trying the salmon and the orange roughy both for this recipe; the orange roughy seemed to be even more flavorful than the salmon. There are plenty of short cuts also -- for example, purchase bagged chopped spinach, pre-sliced mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes can even be substituted. The perfect meal for a family on-the-go, people with children, and those trying to incorporate healthier alternatives into their diet. There is even room to try different dressings/marinades and still end up with a good result. Be creative and enjoy!!

Response from KHurly Girl

Dear KHurly Girl,

I need some motivation. I just feel like I'm not doing enough with my life; everyday is the same. I want more excitement out of life. You know? I'm feeling like this just isn't enough for me. I really don't know what my problem is, maybe it's work or other things, but everything just seems to piss me off lately. Can you help me, I need some advice?!

-- Stephanie B.


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Response to Stephanie B.,

I understand exactly how you feel, we all have moments like this at times. Trust me, you're not alone and feeling this way is completely normal. And definitely as a woman, I can say that sometimes we have them at least once a month. LOL. Ok, but seriously, sometimes the pressures of everyday life and responsibilities make it hard to find time for pleasure and fulfillment in our lives. I'm not sure of your exact situation but everything from relationships, to children, to careers, etc., will play a role in how we achieve balance in our lives -- trying to keep a certain level of excitement versus dealing with these everyday stresses. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not implying that your relationship or children or career or whatever is a "stress" but at times those aspects of our lives can be demanding and you have to make time for yourself when you feel those demands weighing on you. We all need time to relax and focus on what else the Universe has to offer, and ultimately what path God (or whomever you refer to as the Most High) has in store for you. Studies show that it's important to incorporate healthy habits into your daily routine to decrease stress. This could include incorporating "me" time into each day, changing your frame of mind about certain things, exercising, and even laughing.

I suggest that you pray for direction and focus in your life, and pray that God helps you to bring more fulfillment into your life. For example, this could be in the form of joining a community center to help children or the homeless, starting a business, taking a vacation, giving yourself a few hours to relax each day, meditation, or a myriad of other things. I think that you should also focus your energy on being introspective about your life -- what makes you happy, what helps you to relieve stress, what activities give you a sense of fulfillment? Answering these questions for yourself could prove to be exactly what you need to jump start your motivation.

I also suggest that you read the following scripture: Matthew 7:7-11...Summarized this scripture states, "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you." Just know that the answer is out there for you, have faith! Feel free to write me back for additional encouragement, if needed. Take care!

-- KHurly Girl