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Folks who enjoy uncluttered rooms and a home not taken over by dust bunnies are often called “neat freaks.” In fact, that was originally the title I was going to give this post: “Secrets of Neat Freaks.” But these people aren’t freaks — they’re people to be admired, respected, and mined for their wisdom and secrets to keeping their home so clean. And their suggestions for the cleaning tool they can’t live without might leave you floored.

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For many of us, artichokes aren’t a staple in the way frozen peas and broccoli are, so they can be easy to overlook during your weekly stroll down the freezer aisle. But I hope I can help you change that, because a bag of frozen artichokes (yes, go for the bag over the box!) is unbelievably versatile and can be used to make so many satisfying meals.

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The next time your Paleo-eating friend tells the waitstaff that your table doesn’t need a bread basket, this is your opportunity to go full-on “WELL, ACTUALLY…” A team of archaeology and archaeobotany researchers just discovered a charred, pita-like flatbread at a research site in northeastern Jordan, and this is one history-changing collection of grains, tubers and gluten.

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Mely Martinez knows a thing or two about authentic Mexican home-style cooking. The blogger behind Mexico in My Kitchen was born and raised in the city of Tampico, Tamaulipas, and then called more than 27 different places in Mexico home before moving to the United States over a decade ago.

She started her blog as a way to help her teenage son recreate the authentic Mexican food that their family has eaten for generations. If there’s anyone who knows her way around a Latin American grocery store, it’s Mely.

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I’ve always said that I could live off beans for the rest of my life. These charro beans are my ultimate “last meal.” In Texas, charro beans, also known as “cowboy beans,” can be found in just about every Tex-Mex joint, served in little bowls alongside your meal. There are many, many different versions of this recipe, but this is my own take on charro beans.

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I don’t know about you, but when I think of breakfast I often think sweet — cereal, pancakes, toast with jam. Sure, I opt for eggs, too, and sausage or bacon on weekends, but the common denominator is that there aren’t any vegetables.

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Today’s awesome post is offered up by Jessica Gouthro of PaleoHacks.com. Enjoy, everyone!

If you feel restless at night, try this seven-minute pre-bed yoga flow to help you drift right to sleep.

We get it: Even though you try to go to bed at a certain time, you’d rather stay up and watch TV. Then, you wake up feeling tired.

Sleep deprivation can cause all sorts of trouble aside from just morning grogginess. When your body doesn’t get enough z’s, you’re at risk for ailments like brain fog, hormone imbalance and irritability.

Tonight, when it’s time for bed but you just don’t feel like it yet, follow this relaxing, seven-minute yoga flow sequence to get you in the mood to catch some deep, quality sleep. You might want a pillow nearby in case you decide to sleep right where you are!

I recommend setting the mood by dimming the lights, playing some soft relaxing music, removing your shoes, and dressing comfortably. This flow can be done on a yoga mat or right in bed for even more comfort and in case you fall asleep in the last pose.

Stay in each pose for at least five slow deep breaths (approximately 30 seconds), then gently transition to the next restful pose.

Seated Breathing Exercise | 5 slow deep breaths

1. Sit in a comfortable position (however you feel most at ease).
2. Place both hands on your belly, close your eyes, and sit up tall with good posture.
3. Take a deep breath in through your nose to fill your lungs completely.
4. Allow the air to seep out effortlessly through your nose as you feel your body melt into relaxation.
5. Continue deep slow and full breaths.

Seated Side Reach | 10 breaths (5 per side)

1. In that same seated position, place your right fingertips down on the ground to your side.
2. Reach your left arm up and over your head as you lean slightly to the right.
3. Take a deep breath and switch to the other side.
4. Continue alternating sides for 10 breaths.

Child’s Pose | 5 breaths

1. Get in an all-fours position, then sit back on your hips.
2. Touch your feet together and widen your knees as much as you comfortably can.
3. Walk your hands out in front of you and rest your forehead on the mat.
4. Lengthen your spine and extend your arms straight all the way.
5. Relax in this pose for five deep breaths.

Cat Pose | 5 breaths

1. Lift back up into an all-fours position and allow your feet to separate to the same width as your knees.
2. Press your palms down into the ground as you round your spine and tuck your chin.
3. Feel the stretch in your upper back and hold the pose for five deep breaths.

Cow Pose | 5 breaths

1. Arch your back and lift your chin to come into cow pose.
2. Press your shoulders back and down and lift your tail bone up.
3. Hold this pose for five deep breaths.

Down Dog | 5 breaths

1. Tuck your toes under and lift up into a downward dog.
2. Straighten your spine and allow your neck to relax.
3. Don’t worry about pressing your heels down, stretching your shoulders or straightening your knees fully—just enjoy the inversion.
4. Get comfortable and take five deep breaths.

Resting Pigeon Pose | 5 breaths per side

1. Lift one knee up underneath your chest and lay your foot down underneath your belly.
2. Fold forward and rest your head on your forearms.
3. Get comfortable and begin breathing deeply.
4. After five breaths on one side, lift back up to downward dog.
5. Transition to the other side and hold for five deep breaths.

Gentle Seated Forward Fold | 5 breaths

1. Sweep your legs around to the front of your mat and straighten your knees.
2. Flex your feet so your toes are pointing up towards the ceiling.
3. Hinge at the hips and reach forward to touch your shins.
4. Do not worry about reaching as far as you can or feeling an intense stretch—let the stretch sensation be mild and comfortable.
5. Close your eyes and take five deep breaths.

Lying Figure 4 Twist | 10 breaths (5 per side)

1. Lie down on your back and plant your feet on the floor.
2. Cross your right ankle over your left knee to form a figure 4 shape.
3. Tilt your hips to the right until your right knee reaches the ground (or close to it).
4. Use your palms down on the ground to help with balance and keeping your shoulders grounded.
5. Begin your deep breaths and hold for five breaths on this side.
6. Lift back up to center, cross your legs in the other direction and twist to the other side.
7. Hold for five deep breaths on the left.

Lying Knee Hug | 5 breaths

1. Stay on your back, and bring both knees in towards your chest.
2. Hug your knees gently with both arms and rest your head on the ground.
3. Feel a slight compression in your hips, but allow it to be restful.
4. Hold this for five deep breaths, then release.

Savasana | 5 breaths (or until you drift off to sleep)

1. Release your legs back to the ground and let your feet fall to the sides.
2. Adjust your position until you feel comfortable.
3. Rest your hands by your sides with palms facing up.
4. Tilt your chin up just slightly for easy breathing.
5. Begin your deep breaths. Stay as long as you like, or until you fall asleep.

Practice this seven-minute pre-bed flow as often as you need it. It’s gentle enough to be done nightly.

Share this with a friend or anyone else you know who is struggling to find good restful sleep.

Thanks again to Jessica Gouthro for today’s ideas. I’d love to hear if you’ll be trying this flow for yourself or if you have another nightly practice that’s worked for you. Have a great end to the week, everybody.

The post 7-Minute Pre-Bed Yoga Flow appeared first on Mark’s Daily Apple.

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There are whole slew of cucumber varieties out there. Some are best pickled, some are best peeled, and some are best just sliced up and enjoyed simply. Two common cukes you may often hear grouped together are Persian and English. These two varieties are both prized for being thin-skinned — so they don’t have to be peeled — and are pretty much seedless. So are they basically the same thing? Not quite. Here are their differences.

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One of my biggest complaints about meal kits is that they never seem to result in enough food. (I have a hungry, hungry husband!). So when HelloFresh officially launched its Dinner 2 Lunch program — with the idea that you cook once and eat twice, turning the extra dinner ingredients into the lunch for the next day or two — I was dubious. I rarely have leftovers, let alone enough to make two (!) lunches for later.

I ordered this sausage pizza dinner (it starts with a flatbread and becomes a pasta lunch) and gave it a try. Keep reading to find out how it went and what I thought.

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Welcome to Kitchn’s series My Superpowered Morning, where we show you how interesting people use their morning routine to help them fuel the rest of the day.

In a world full of perfect #selfies and over-styled food shots on Instagram, illustrator Mari Andrew’s account is remarkably human for someone with almost 900,000 followers. Her drawings are sometimes funny (like with this hilariously accurate depiction of food trends), but more often than not they deal with heartache, grief, and navigating how to be an adult. In just a few strokes of a pencil or brush, she is eerily good at making you feel less alone.

Mari (pronounced MAHR-EE, in case you were wondering) didn’t start out as an illustrator. In 2015 her dad passed away and she was going through a terrible breakup, and she needed a creative outlet to cope. So, she picked up drawing and started an Instagram account where she posts every day. Her work resonated with people and it quickly grew in three years. This year she published her book Am I There Yet?, which is a heartwarming extension of her account.

I got to visit Mari at her studio apartment in New York. We talked comfort food, Bossa Nova, and how her morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the day.

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