Christmas baking is upon us! Follow me on Pinterest for amazing cookie recipes! The raspberry almond shortbread were by far my favorite Christmas cookie yet!! <3

Time to start planning your plan for the new year! How will you spark up 2015?!

 

New Years Menu Idea's

Instead of going out to dinner for new years, try
throwing a small party. Dress up, wear your little black
dress and head to the Rochester Convention Center for
a free fire work show after! You can find all the recipes to these
pictures on my pinterest "New Years Menu Options"

FREE New Years Eve Events on my
"Rochester happenings page!"

 

Get rid of that holiday bloat!

Detox Soup: Baby it's Cold Outside!

I need to detox from too many parties and holiday eating. 

It's easy and works for 4 simple reasons

• It's short term - just four days
• Convenience- once you make the soup in advance- it's always ready
• No choices- that keeps me on track
• Healthy,  filling and tasty- full of vegetables and beans
• It helps stabilize your blood sugar to eliminate cravings

Also , Since I haven't been starving myself or eating restrictive foods, I'm able to maintain the weight loss once I go back to my regular healthy eating habits.

Can't do it for 4 days? Even 2 days can help you detox some of the bloat

The other good part is there is no steadfast recipe. You can substitute any non starchy vegetable or bean in your recipe. Don't like kidney beans? Add black beans. I added spinach to my 2nd pot of soup and my daughter in law Wendy added string beans to a soup she made.
* Do not add potatoes, butternut squash, or sweet potatoes if you want to lose weight.

Ingredients:
1/2 cabbage, chopped
1 28 ounce can of organic only chopped tomatoes ( or 6 fresh chopped fresh tomatoes)
1/2 cup organic only tomato paste if you like a richer tomato flavor ( I didn't)
1/2 bag of dry uncooked lentils, washed
2 cups of cooked kidney beans ( or 1organic can )
4 carrots , sliced

1 large red pepper, chopped
1 package of sliced mushrooms, or any dried mushrooms
1 onion chopped
4 cloves garlic, pressed
salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste ( I also added 21 Salute salt free seasoning from Trader Joes)
 20 cups filtered water
a few sprigs of fresh basil
a few shakes of ground hot pepper ( optional)

 Easy Directions:
Put everything into the slow cooker on high for 3 hours and then  change to low for another two hours if the lentils are not soft enough OR put in a regular large stock pot , bring to a boil, turn down heat and cook until everything is soft ( 2 hours ?)

Remember, you can substitute the vegetables and beans to any beans or vegetables of your liking.. use any kind of non starchy vegetables and any kind of beans. You won't be hungry and the best part is that your meal is always ready and waiting for you
Don't have a crock pot/slow cooker? Just make the soup in a pot.. tastes even better

(http://glutenfreewithjudee.blogspot.com/2013/01/detox-soup.html)

Holiday Appetizers

Holiday Treats: Start these several days in advance!

CHOCOLATE COVERED SPIKED CHERRIES

Here's what you will need*:
1 jar (16 ounces) maraschino cherries with stems
1/2 cup liquor (Cherry vodka or creme de cacao work well.)
1 cup chocolate chips (dark, milk, or white)
1 teaspoon shortening

*I recommend making two batches at once so that you have an additional chocolate to garnish your cherries.

Begin by soaking maraschino cherries (with stems) in liquor for 4-7 days. I tried two different versions. One with cherry vodka; the other with white creme de cacao. I soaked my cherries right in the jar they came in. Just empty out the red syrup and fill the jar with the liquor.

Once they have soaked for the specified time, drain off the liquor. (You can save this for cocktails.) Then, dry the cherries on a paper towel. This will help the chocolate to stick.

Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper and set aside.

In a double boiler (or the microwave), melt your chocolate chips and shortening. (The shortening prevents the chocolate from getting really hard.) Stir until smooth.

Next, dip the cherries into the chocolate and set on wax paper. Add any leftover melted chocolate to a plastic baggie. Cut a very small section of the tip of the bag and pipe lines or designs on the cherries.

(http://www.inspiredbycharm.com/2014/12/chocolate-covered-spiked-cherries.html)

Soak the Cherries for several days to a week - Use milk chocolate for the vodka-soaked cherries and white chocolate for the ones soaked in the creme de cacao. Quick tip here: Dry off your cherries with a paper towel before dipping them. This will help the chocolate to stick.

Once you dip the cherries transfer them to wax paper. Use the opposite color melted chocolate to drizzle the top for decoration! 

Let them chill completely in the fridge until you are ready to serve them. These come in handy for great holiday appetizers!! 

Finding My Inner Glow

Who are the happiest people? The answer varies depending on who you ask. My view is that our inner glow doesn't have to disappear just because our schedules get busy and our responsibilities increase. Finding that healthy balance to help you create peace is very important. Sometimes people don't know how to find that balance. This blog provides options for you to figuring that out!

How to Stay Happy - Even on the Busiest of to meditate until I started working part time at a local Yoga Studio in fairport (Prana) www.pranayogarochester.com
. If you have a very stressful career, or even lifestyle the benefits of yoga are very benDays:
(Beautiful You: Nerium International)
* Get Outside: Even if it is only for 10 minutes. Take a break to take in natures beauty, take deep breathes and focus on your breathing. You will feel instant release of any stress going on.

* Practice a few minutes a day with silent meditation: I never used eficial. Try taking a yoga class once a week to help take away any stress. In the morning, take a few minutes in a quiet less distracting area to take in deep breaths and focus on your breathing. Stretch and get your blood circulating. This is a great start to any day.



* Remember to Smile: "Smiling is good for the muscles in the face, and it is difficult to maintain anger when you Smile" - Dr David Solly Psychology Professor at the University of the Rockies

* To to get to the gym 3 times a week. There are many options to getting in a work out. You can go to the gym for an hour or two. Or try an at home DVD 30 minutes or more as long as you are active. I have also tried looking up WOD online (workout of the day) Interval training or circuit training is a great way to speed up your metabolism. The nice thing about this is you don't even have to own any equipment, just your own body weight.

* Create a list of things you enjoy: Look into trying new hobbies or finding the time to enjoy the things you love. I started taking painting classes at -Painting with a twist http://m.paintingwithatwist.com/fairport/  Invite your friends, bring a bottle of wine and enjoy a fun relaxing setting. They play upbeat music and it's meant to be just a fun experience. You do not need to have any painting talent to take this class. Once I realized painting was the perfect way to release any stress, I took it upon myself to paint at home. Anything that was on my mind and constantly stressing me out seemed to disappear when painting. YouTube provides beginners paitining classes for free online as well.

* Find small projects on your spare time: Pinterest just happens to be an obsession of mine! Wither it's recipes, quotes, finding new DIY (Do It Yourself) projects, Make up tutorials, Painting Idea's Etc. this is a great tool to use. It is completely free and the possibilities are endless with new things to try!

* Living an organized life: This is something I constantly struggle in. Once my living area becomes unorganized so does everything else around me including myself! Find ways to organize your work space, living area, and VEHICLE!  Life doesn't seem to be as bad once everything has a proper place.

*Sync Up: While technology can be distracting it is also a blessing in disguise. Putting your finances online and automatic payments  can reduce the amount of time you spend managing your money. Apps like "Coach to 5K" the Nike Training Club and Cardio can help you start and stick to healthy exercise habits. Which is a result to reducing stress. This is an option to simplifying life.