25 Days of Blogging- Day 20: Making a New Years Resolution

Hi fiends!

Do you set New Year’s Resolutions?  Do you follow through with them all year, or does it seem to begin to slip come February or March?

If you are part of the latter group, you are not alone! I am on the same boat, but I have found a few tricks to set better goals that are easy to stick to; they are called SMART goals and are often used in the business world.  I actually learned about this type of goal setting through my schooling to become a dietitian as a way to help future clients meet their health goals.  

25 Days of Blogging- Day 17: Where's Your Spirit?!

Hi Friends!

I hope you are enjoying this festive season.  I can't believe there are less than 10 days left of this daily blogging challenge!  I am really enjoying writing to you every day, so we will see what happens after December 25th.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah, or any of the other festivals I mentioned in my last posts, there is something about this time of year that makes everyone just a bit more happy.  Have you noticed it?  People seem to have an extra sparkle in their eye due to all of the festivities.  Maybe its because they get to see their friends and family that they may not always get to see...maybe it's all the festive food and drink...maybe they just love the cold weather (nah, that can't be it! ha!)

Either way, people are happy and that is what makes this world a better place to live. 

I do believe that this time of year also brings out the kid in all of us cranky adults (the world can do that to you...) We remember what it was like to go sledding, we drink hot chocolate with marshmallows, we hug more, we sing songs, and just feel like a kid!  One of the best ways to feel like a kid is to play!

It's a blurry picture, but I'm sure you get the point.  This is me having a blast with my hubby and friends!!

If you take a step back and watch the kids in your life, notice that they don't care about fitting in their exercise regime, they don't stress about what foods they should eat; they simply live and play!  So, I challenge you to get outside with friends and family, young and old, and PLAY!  It doesn't have to be anything crazy strenuous or physically challenging.  Throw a ball, play tag, dance in the living room with holiday music (I do this one all the time :)  Just find an excuse to have fun let your inner child shine though. 

What do you do to let your inner child out?  Let me know in the comments!

25 Days of Bloggging- Day 13: Omisoka

Hi friends!

Today's festival is a very important holiday in Japan because it marks the end of an old year and the eve of the new. 

At 11pm on this evening, family and friends gather to have a bowl of toshikoshi-soba (年越しそば) or toshikoshi-udon (年越しうどん).  This tradition relates to the association in which long noodles representing a crossing over from one year to the next. 

Before we get on to the recipe, I just want to let you all know that tomorrow is the last festival post as I am having a hard time finding more.  If you know of a winter holiday/festival that I have not yet covered, please leave a comment below and I will be sure to include it in the 25 Days of Blogging series!!

Now, onto the recipe!:

Ingredients:
Noodle soup
1.5l dashi stock (the base used for miso soup- can contain fish, so although not traditional, you can substitute vegetable stock)
200ml soy sauce
100ml mirin
1tbsp sugar
300ml tsuyu (optional)

Noodles
200g soba buckwheat noodles
100g spring onions
20g tempura flakes

Recipe and Picture Link

Directions:

1. In a large pan, make your dashi stock. Next, add the mirin and simmer gently for a few minutes. Now add the sugar and let it dissolve before adding the soy sauce. This makes the soup for your soba noodles.
2. In separate pan bring 1l of water to the boil. Add the soba, stir them slightly to make sure they’re all spread out around the pot. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for around 8 minutes. Cooking times may vary depending on your noodles, so check the instructions on the packet.
   
3. Drain the noodles and rinse them in cold water, gently rubbing the noodles to remove any excess starch on the surface. Next, thinly slice the spring onions and any other garnishes.
4. Gently re-heat the stock and pour into bowls, then add the noodles and garnish with your spring onions and tempura flakes.

25 Days of Blogging- Day 6: St. Lucia Day

Hi Friends!

Today's festival is a Swedish tradition celebrated on December 13th.  St. Lucia's Day comes from stories told by the Monks who first brought Christianity to Sweden.  More of the traditions of this holiday come from the story, rather than food (but there is a good recipe I'll share with you!)

The story goes like this:
Lucia was a young Christian girl who was martyred in 304 AD.  She would secretly bring food to persecuted Christians in Rome.  In order to keep her hands free to carry things, she would wear candles on her head.
In today's world, Lucia is celebrated by a girl wearing a white dress with a red sash around her waist and a crown of candles on her head.  The crown is made of lingonberry branches to symbolize new life in winter.

A popular dish eaten are Lussekatts, which are St. Lucia's Day buns flavored with saffron and dotted with raisins and to be eaten at breakfast.

Recipe and Picture Link

This recipe is from Sweden, so the measurements are by weight and not in volume measurements...

Ingredients:

• 150g dairy free butter
• 500ml dairy free milk
• 50g dry yeast
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 1g saffron powder
• 1.3L plain flour
• raisins or sultanas

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 250C/ 480 degrees F
2. Melt the butter and add the milk to it. Heat until warm with the saffron (37C / 98F)
3. Dissolve the yeast with the milk/butter liquid in a big bowl. Add salt, sugar and around 2/3 of the plain flour.
4. Work the dough until shiny and add more of the flour as needed; saving 1-2dl (½-3/4cup) for the rolling of the dough later on. 
5. Sprinkle with flour and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Leave to rise in room temperature with out a drag until the dough has doubled in size. (approx. 45-60min)
6. Once your dough has risen, put it on a floured work bench and cut into 30-40 pieces.
7. Roll each piece into a sausage shape as thick as a finger and shape into the classic lussekatt-shape. (or shape of your choice, but remember that size will effect how long it has to be baked.)
8. Place evenly on oven trays with baking paper and leave to rise until they almost double in size.
9. Brush with dairy free milk and gently push a raisin/sultana in each swirl on the buns.
10. Bake each tray in the middle of the pre-heated oven for 8-10 minutes. Until just golden.
11. Enjoy your Swedish Saffron Buns.

I hope you enjoy and don't forget to check out The Vegan Swedes, where I found this recipe!!

25 Days of Blogging- Day 5: Fiesta of Our Lady Guadalupe

Hi friends!

Today's festival is a Mexican-Catholic holiday beginning the week before December 12th.  Celebrations go all the way to the eve of December 12th, when the height of the celebration happens.  On this day, conchero dancers gather in the atrium of the church Basilica of Ville Madero.  Here, there is dancing, music, and singing to honor the Señora de Guadalupe.

 One of the many traditional recipes enjoyed on this day (December 12th) is Sopa de Espinaca (Spinach Soup).  This traditional soup has an additional special ingredient...macaroni noodles!


Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb spinach
• 1/4 lb elbow macaroni
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1.2 onion, minced
• 1/2 can tomato paste
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Boil the spinach and macaroni separately, then rinse and drain. 
2. Brown the onions in oil, then add the tomato sauce.  Stir and let simmer for 2 minutes, then add the broth.  
3. Bring the mixture to a boil and add the macaroni.
4. Add spinach and simmer 5 minutes.  
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve!

25 Days of Blogging- Day 4: 3. Eid-al-Adha

Hi Friends!

Today's festival is from Islam and is called Eid-al-Adha, also known as the Sacrifice Feast.  It is a 4 day festival honoring the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son for God.  Those who can, donate an entire halal animal to neighbors or those less fortunate.  The sacrificed animal is known as Udiyyah and has to meet a certain set of rules to be considered Halal.

 

Since the majority of the recipes for this festival include meat, I have decided not to post a recipe.  In holding the highest respect for cultures and customs, I do not feel comfortable posting an animal-based recipe on this blog.

If you would like to learn more about this festival, click here.

25 Days of Blogging- Day 2: Ramadan

 

 Hi friends!  Welcome to Day 2 of 25 Days of Blogging!

Disclaimer: I am by no means an expert with these holidays.  I find culture and festivals wonderfully fascinating, so I wanted to share some of my basic research with you!  These posts are just the basics of the holidays and a lot will be missed.  If you have more information on any of the holidays/festivals presented in the next few weeks, feel free to leave a comment or email me directly.  Thank you!

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection, and prayer.  Each day, during Ramadan, followers do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset and break their fast by sharing special meals with family and friends.  At the end of Ramadan, a three day festival known as Id al-Fitr is heald and is known as one of Islam's major holidays.

Picture Link

Typical foods to break the fast include water, dates, and milk.  There are several essential foods to prepare and consume during Ramadan, one of those being Amar el Deen. To make this drink, sheets of dried apricot are soaked in water for several hours.  Once soaked, the mixture is drained and then blended with enough fresh water to make it smooth.

Picture Link

Do you celebrate Ramadan?  Have you tried Amar el Deen before?  Let me know in the comments! (I read and reply to every one of them!)

25 Days of Blogging- Holidays Around the World!

Hi friends!  Welcome to 25 days of Blogging!!   

For the next 25 days, I will be sharing winter holiday customs from around the globe, recipes, yoga, and a bit of history with you.  (Note:  the history and holiday/festival information has been found online, I am no expert on these holidays!)  

Now, as I mentioned, this will be 25 days of blogging...in a row..., and I am sure this will be a challenge, but I think I can pull through!  Below is a list of the December holidays I found whist doing research on this topic.  I will be posting a recipe as well as a brief overview of each holiday.  If I happen to miss any holiday that you are familiar with or celebrate, please let me know and share your knowledge with me!  I adore learning about cultures and traditions so leave me a comment and maybe share a recipe!  

 

Disclaimer:  As mentioned before, I am no expert on any of these holidays.  The information presented on this blog is from searching on the internet.  If any information presented is incorrect, please send me a kind email letting me know of the correct information and a resource to use and I will edit the post with corrected information.