Yes the Festival of Lights, otherwise known as Hanukkah, starts at sundown on December 11 and lasts for 8 days and 8 nights. Over the holiday festive food is prepared and we have some recipes just for you.
Potato Latkes are a favorite of many and there are different variations of them. Martha Stewart provides an interesting twist with her Potato, Sweet Potato and Onion Latkes:
1 large all-purpose or Yukon Gold potato, peeled
1 large sweet potato, peeled
1/4 large white onion, peeled
1 large egg, at room temperature
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil, for frying
1. Grate potatoes and onion using the largest holes of a four-sided grater. Combine in a small bowl; add egg, flour, salt, and pepper, and stir well to combine.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Drop batter by heaping tablespoonfuls into the pan, and cook until golden brown around the edges, about 3 minutes. Turn latkes over, press lightly with a spatula, and cook about 3 minutes more. Continue cooking latkes in batches until batter is used up. Serve with applesauce or sour cream.
3. Potato, carrot, and parsnip variation: Use 2 all-purpose potatoes, 1 medium carrot, and 1 small parsnip. Potato, onion, and horseradish variation: Use 2 Yukon Gold potatoes, 1/4 large white onion, and 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish, liquid pressed out.
Yield: 12 servings
Egg Salad with Lemon & Fennel
8 large eggs
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 fennel bulb, finely chopped (1 cup), plus 1 tablespoon finely chopped fronds
Cover eggs with cold water in a medium saucepan. Cook eggs, uncovered, at a gentle boil 10 minutes. Pour off hot water. Shake pan gently so eggs bump one another (to crack shells). Run cold water into pan to stop cooking. Let eggs stand in cold water 15 minutes, adding more water to keep cold.
Mince and mash garlic to a paste with a pinch of salt. Whisk together with mayonnaise, lemon juice, zest, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Chop eggs and stir into dressing with fennel and fronds.
Note: Egg salad can be made 1 day ahead and chilled. Bring to cool room temperature before serving.
Easy Wine-Marinated Brisket
1 cup dry red wine
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 small onion, finely minced
1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
3 to 4 pounds beef brisket
1 medium-sized onion, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Feel free to add root vegetables around the brisket, if you wish. Keep an eye on the liquid level and add more if it evaporates.
Combine wine, soy sauce, grated onion celery, and garlic in a heavy-duty zip-top freezer bag large enough to accommodate the brisket. Add the brisket to the bag, squeeze out the air, seal, and refrigerate 3 to 4 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Remove brisket and place fat-side up in a roasting pan or dutch oven. Spread sliced onions around brisket and cover with the marinade. Sprinkle with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cover tightly with heavy foil or a lid. Bake 3 hours, until tender. Check midway during roasting time and add water, if needed, to keep brisket from drying out.
When done, remove brisket from oven and let rest 15 minutes. Carve slices against the grain and place on serving platter. Cover slices with pan juices and cooked onions to serve.
Yield: about 8 servings
Doughnuts
6 ounces (175 grams or 1-1/4 cups) flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 ounces (125 grams or 1/4 cup) margarine
1 ounce (25 grams or 2 tablespoons) sugar
1 egg
2 Tablespoons milk
A little raspberry jam
Extra sugar for dusting
Cinnamon
Oil for frying
Sieve flour, salt, and baking powder. Cut and rub in margarine and add sugar, mixing to a light dough with beaten egg and milk. Turn mixture on to a floured board and roll out 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) thick. Cut into small rounds. Put a little raspberry jam on half these circles. Brush the other half with milk and put 2 together, pinching carefully round the edges to fasten securely.
Fry in oil heated to 360 degrees F - preferably in an electric deep-fryer for 6 to 8 minutes. Toss in sugar or a mixture of sugar and ground cinnamon.
Yield: 12 doughnuts (best eaten same day or freeze for 3 months)
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Dear Just Be: I can feel my stress level rising with the approaching holidays. Do you have any stress release tips?
We have heard people counting down to the holidays, observed people already sending packages to loved ones at the post office and have noticed people's calendars are filling up & quickly! So with all the hustle and bustle this time of year brings, it is no wonder stress levels rise. We think some basic yoga poses can restore your peace of mind and lower your stress levels so you can enjoy this time of year versus stressing throughout the next few weeks.
As your time permits, try one of these poses. Or if more time allows, put together a flow of the poses.
Childs Pose:
1. Kneel on the floor. Touch your big toes together and sit on your heels, then separate your knees about as wide as your hips.
2. Spread the knees as wide as the mat, keeping the big toes touching.
3. Bring the belly to rest between the thighs and the forehead to the floor.
4. There are two possible arm variations:
Either stretch the arms in front of you with the palms toward the floor or bring the arms back alongside the thighs with the palms facing upwards. Do whichever feel more comfortable to you.
Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose:
1. Sit next to a wall with the side of your body on the wall and your knees bent into the chest.
2. Bring the lower back onto the floor while bringing the legs up the wall. Keep the upper body supported with the elbows on the floor.
3. Slowly release the elbows and lower the whole back down to the floor.
4. If you are comfortable, stay here several minutes.
5. To come out, bring the knees into your chest and roll to your side.
You may wish to support the low back with a bolster or several folded blankets placed right at and parallel to the wall. This also increases the angle of inversion.
Corpse Pose:
1. Come to lie down on the back.
2. Let the feet fall out to either side.
3. Bring the arms alongside the body, but slightly separated from the body, and turn the palms to face upwards.
4. Relax the whole body, including the face. Let the body feel heavy.
5. Let the breath occur naturally.
6. To come out, first begin to the deepen the breath. Then move the fingers and toes, awakening the body.
7. Bring the knees into the chest and roll over to one side, keep the eyes closed.
8. Slowly bring yourself back up into a sitting position.
Just by engaging in just one of these exercises, you will feel more relaxed and centered and able to tackle your holiday shopping, entertain friends and family with a smile on your face and more.
In yoga there are many poses, so continue to with the practice and learn more poses that fit your needs and lifestyle.
As your time permits, try one of these poses. Or if more time allows, put together a flow of the poses.
Childs Pose:
1. Kneel on the floor. Touch your big toes together and sit on your heels, then separate your knees about as wide as your hips.
2. Spread the knees as wide as the mat, keeping the big toes touching.
3. Bring the belly to rest between the thighs and the forehead to the floor.
4. There are two possible arm variations:
Either stretch the arms in front of you with the palms toward the floor or bring the arms back alongside the thighs with the palms facing upwards. Do whichever feel more comfortable to you.
Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose:
1. Sit next to a wall with the side of your body on the wall and your knees bent into the chest.
2. Bring the lower back onto the floor while bringing the legs up the wall. Keep the upper body supported with the elbows on the floor.
3. Slowly release the elbows and lower the whole back down to the floor.
4. If you are comfortable, stay here several minutes.
5. To come out, bring the knees into your chest and roll to your side.
You may wish to support the low back with a bolster or several folded blankets placed right at and parallel to the wall. This also increases the angle of inversion.
Corpse Pose:
1. Come to lie down on the back.
2. Let the feet fall out to either side.
3. Bring the arms alongside the body, but slightly separated from the body, and turn the palms to face upwards.
4. Relax the whole body, including the face. Let the body feel heavy.
5. Let the breath occur naturally.
6. To come out, first begin to the deepen the breath. Then move the fingers and toes, awakening the body.
7. Bring the knees into the chest and roll over to one side, keep the eyes closed.
8. Slowly bring yourself back up into a sitting position.
Just by engaging in just one of these exercises, you will feel more relaxed and centered and able to tackle your holiday shopping, entertain friends and family with a smile on your face and more.
In yoga there are many poses, so continue to with the practice and learn more poses that fit your needs and lifestyle.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Dear Just Be: I need ideas for making crafts with my kids over the holiday break
Below are three easy crafting ideas you can make with kids.
1.) A miniture Christmas tree.
This craft is ideal for decorating a kids room. The craft can be placed on the child's dresser or nightstand.
Materials
•Evergreen clipping
•Glass jar or cup
•Salt
•Pipe cleaner
Instructions
a.) Trim and shape the evergreen clipping so that it resembles a conical tree with a trunk.
b.) Fill a glass jar or cup with salt, and push the bottom of the tree deep enough into the salt to keep it from toppling.
c.) Finally, fashion a pipe cleaner into a star and attach it to the tip of the tree
2.) Old-fashioned garland
Materials
•2/3 cup unpopped popcorn
•Medium paper bag
•Dried apricots
•Dried cranberries
•Needle and thread
Instructions
a.) To microwave the popcorn, pour the kernels into the paper bag and loosely fold the bag closed. Place the bag in the microwave. Cook on high for 3 to 6 minutes or until the popcorn has popped (the exact time will depend on the power of the microwave). It's done when the pops slow to a near stop.
b.) Carefully remove the bag from the oven and open it to let the steam escape (an adult's job). Pour the popcorn into a large bowl and let cool. Open the bags of dried apricots and dried cranberries and pour into separate bowls.
c.) Next, thread a needle with about 36 inches of white thread doubled to make the thread strong and a workable 18 inches long. Tie a knot at the end.
d.) Choose a pattern to repeat, for example, two pieces of popcorn followed by a dried apricot, then two more pieces of popcorn followed by a dried cranberry. String several short garlands, then hang them on the tree
3.) In-door Icicles
Materials
•White glitter felt
•Paper
•Glue stick
Instructions
a.) Cut white glitter felt into a strip 6 1/2 inches wide and as long as your shelf. On the non-glittery side, draw long, pointy icicles with a pencil and cut them out, leaving a border of 1 1/2 inches on the top edge.
b.) Cut a strip of white paper about 4 inches wide and as long as your shelf (tape multiple pieces of paper together as needed). Fold over 1/2-inch of one edge, then join the felt piece and the folded paper with a glue stick as shown.
c.) Clear a shelf, lay the paper on it so that the icicles hang down, and replace the objects to keep the shelfsicles in place.
For more crafting ideas visit Disney's Family Fun page.
1.) A miniture Christmas tree.
This craft is ideal for decorating a kids room. The craft can be placed on the child's dresser or nightstand.
Materials
•Evergreen clipping
•Glass jar or cup
•Salt
•Pipe cleaner
Instructions
a.) Trim and shape the evergreen clipping so that it resembles a conical tree with a trunk.
b.) Fill a glass jar or cup with salt, and push the bottom of the tree deep enough into the salt to keep it from toppling.
c.) Finally, fashion a pipe cleaner into a star and attach it to the tip of the tree
2.) Old-fashioned garland
Materials
•2/3 cup unpopped popcorn
•Medium paper bag
•Dried apricots
•Dried cranberries
•Needle and thread
Instructions
a.) To microwave the popcorn, pour the kernels into the paper bag and loosely fold the bag closed. Place the bag in the microwave. Cook on high for 3 to 6 minutes or until the popcorn has popped (the exact time will depend on the power of the microwave). It's done when the pops slow to a near stop.
b.) Carefully remove the bag from the oven and open it to let the steam escape (an adult's job). Pour the popcorn into a large bowl and let cool. Open the bags of dried apricots and dried cranberries and pour into separate bowls.
c.) Next, thread a needle with about 36 inches of white thread doubled to make the thread strong and a workable 18 inches long. Tie a knot at the end.
d.) Choose a pattern to repeat, for example, two pieces of popcorn followed by a dried apricot, then two more pieces of popcorn followed by a dried cranberry. String several short garlands, then hang them on the tree
3.) In-door Icicles
Materials
•White glitter felt
•Paper
•Glue stick
Instructions
a.) Cut white glitter felt into a strip 6 1/2 inches wide and as long as your shelf. On the non-glittery side, draw long, pointy icicles with a pencil and cut them out, leaving a border of 1 1/2 inches on the top edge.
b.) Cut a strip of white paper about 4 inches wide and as long as your shelf (tape multiple pieces of paper together as needed). Fold over 1/2-inch of one edge, then join the felt piece and the folded paper with a glue stick as shown.
c.) Clear a shelf, lay the paper on it so that the icicles hang down, and replace the objects to keep the shelfsicles in place.
For more crafting ideas visit Disney's Family Fun page.
Dear Just Be: I’m planning a holiday party. Do you have any helpful tips?
To some people throwing holiday parties is fun, and to others just stressful. Keeping parties fun is not hard to do. Below are a few simple tips for you to use when planning your holiday party.
The first, and really only rule to live by when planning an event is, don’t sweat the small stuff. The small stuff always comes together and no one notices the small stuff except you. (I learned this during my five plus years in event planning.) Just make sure you have covered the basics: food, drinks, plates, utensils and fun.
When it comes to food, don’t make it too extravagant. People do nothing but eat during the month of December, so majority of your guests are not going to eat too much, so don’t waste the time. Keep in mind how your guests will be partaking in the food. Will they be sitting down or standing up mingling with guests. It might be obvious, but don’t serve an item that needs to be cut, or that has a lot of liquid to it if you want people to stand around with their plates.
For drinks the general rule is two drinks per person for the first two hours and then one drink per each extra half hour. Don’t go out buying every kind of wine or hard liquor there is. Do be sure to have: vodka, rum, whiskey, wine, beer, cranberry juice, club soda, Coke, tonic water, and lots of lemons (the last five items are for mixers). Buy more of the wines and beers you like because you will be the one consuming what is left over.
Decorations are not needed unless you haven’t decorated your home for the holidays. What ever you have up for the holidays keep, no need to add more especially if it means it limits the space that your guests can move around in. Don’t forget to have some background music. Music helps add to the feel of the event.
Be sure you to take small steps in organizing your party. DO NOT do everything at the last minute. Start preparing days out from your event. One day go purchase the drinks. The next day purchase plates and utensils, or polish and get out your plates and utensils. The day before the party, purchase and prepare some of the dishes. If you have a spouse or roommate that can help you, enlist their help!
The final tip. Enjoy yourself. Your guests have come to see you, and the mood of the party will be greatly determined by your energy. Guests feel and feed off of your energy and thus determine the feel of the event. Doing tasks ahead of time instead of at the last minute will help you be more relaxed and excited for the party.
For ideas on how to plan a unique holiday party check out About.com
The first, and really only rule to live by when planning an event is, don’t sweat the small stuff. The small stuff always comes together and no one notices the small stuff except you. (I learned this during my five plus years in event planning.) Just make sure you have covered the basics: food, drinks, plates, utensils and fun.
When it comes to food, don’t make it too extravagant. People do nothing but eat during the month of December, so majority of your guests are not going to eat too much, so don’t waste the time. Keep in mind how your guests will be partaking in the food. Will they be sitting down or standing up mingling with guests. It might be obvious, but don’t serve an item that needs to be cut, or that has a lot of liquid to it if you want people to stand around with their plates.
For drinks the general rule is two drinks per person for the first two hours and then one drink per each extra half hour. Don’t go out buying every kind of wine or hard liquor there is. Do be sure to have: vodka, rum, whiskey, wine, beer, cranberry juice, club soda, Coke, tonic water, and lots of lemons (the last five items are for mixers). Buy more of the wines and beers you like because you will be the one consuming what is left over.
Decorations are not needed unless you haven’t decorated your home for the holidays. What ever you have up for the holidays keep, no need to add more especially if it means it limits the space that your guests can move around in. Don’t forget to have some background music. Music helps add to the feel of the event.
Be sure you to take small steps in organizing your party. DO NOT do everything at the last minute. Start preparing days out from your event. One day go purchase the drinks. The next day purchase plates and utensils, or polish and get out your plates and utensils. The day before the party, purchase and prepare some of the dishes. If you have a spouse or roommate that can help you, enlist their help!
The final tip. Enjoy yourself. Your guests have come to see you, and the mood of the party will be greatly determined by your energy. Guests feel and feed off of your energy and thus determine the feel of the event. Doing tasks ahead of time instead of at the last minute will help you be more relaxed and excited for the party.
For ideas on how to plan a unique holiday party check out About.com
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Dear Just Be: What is an efficient way to burn calories after the holiday parties this weekend?
The holiday parties are in full swing and burning calories is at the top of everyone's wish list this year, so as to not gain the typical holiday 5 pounds. Witht eh snowfall Colorado just received in the last few days, our minds went directly to ways to burn calories with winter activities.
Did you know that skiing (both downhill & cross-country) can burn anywhere from 400-550 calories per hour for a person weighing 155 pounds. Plus you'll be outside getting some fresh air and on a perfect ski day - some sun rays!
Here are some tips to help you burn those holiday treatsoff for those of you who ski (or want to ski):
1. Be on the look out for the latest ski deals, so you don't have to pay out of the nose to get in some great outdoor exercise.
2. Check into ski or snowboarding lessons at a nearby ski resort - weekly classes are offered and provide a routine exercise program through the winter.
3. Be prepared for the weather - put together a "winter activities" box so you can always locate your gear, which can include, ski passes, sunglasses/goggles, sunscreen, lip balm, hand & foot warmers, ski socks, hats and gloves, ski helmet, and long underwear.
4. When you are not on the slopes, do some exercises to strengthen your core and to help improve your balance.
Have fun hitting the slopes and burning those holiday calories!
Did you know that skiing (both downhill & cross-country) can burn anywhere from 400-550 calories per hour for a person weighing 155 pounds. Plus you'll be outside getting some fresh air and on a perfect ski day - some sun rays!
Here are some tips to help you burn those holiday treatsoff for those of you who ski (or want to ski):
1. Be on the look out for the latest ski deals, so you don't have to pay out of the nose to get in some great outdoor exercise.
2. Check into ski or snowboarding lessons at a nearby ski resort - weekly classes are offered and provide a routine exercise program through the winter.
3. Be prepared for the weather - put together a "winter activities" box so you can always locate your gear, which can include, ski passes, sunglasses/goggles, sunscreen, lip balm, hand & foot warmers, ski socks, hats and gloves, ski helmet, and long underwear.
4. When you are not on the slopes, do some exercises to strengthen your core and to help improve your balance.
Have fun hitting the slopes and burning those holiday calories!
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