Hometown Fest FUN!

Hi Friends!

I hope you all had a safe, fun, and enjoyable 4th of July weekend!  Andrew and I had his step-brother and sister over for Friday through Sunday, so we decided to take them to the Hometown Fest just down the street.  There was a HUGE parade (we stood there for nearly 2 hours watching the floats!), then we had a picnic lunch and walked around the fair.  And, of course, we finished off the night with a Harry Potter movie!  We have been re-watching the movies lately as we will be visiting Universal next week!

Take a look below to see some of the fun things we saw!

A delicious vegan spread of hummus and veggie sandwiches on ciabatta bread with fresh blueberries, watermelon, and cantaloupe!

Below are pictures from our nature walk!  I learned so much and found out that my favorite wild flour, Queen Anne's Lace, is also called wild carrot!!  All these years and I had no clue!

The picture below is actually a wild rose plant!

I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating this weekend!

Fat Tuesday

Hi friends!

I am coming to you this snowy Fat Tuesday with a special post this week. 

You may already know this, but I love culture.  Food customs, traditions, clothes are all so amazing to me; and the stories that are behind all of these things are even more astounding!  Traditions and festivals can tell so much about a culture, which is why I like to highlight as many holidays/festivals as I can on this blog.  It is important to learn about different cultures so that every individual can appreciate differences and learn along the way.  Learning about culture is like taking a step into the past.  It can show you what people did thousands of years ago!

As a child, I grew up not really understanding the meaning behind Mardi Gras (aka Fat Tuesday).  As you'll see in the following paragraphs, no one does REALLY know the story behind this festival.  We do know, though, that by today's standards, it means lots of food and celebration.

With yesterday (Monday) beginning the Lunar New Year and today beginning Mardi Gras, it is a time for celebration around the globe!  Let me tell you, I have never felt more connected to so many cultures all at once!!

If you'd like a refresher on the Lunar New Year, check out this post I did back in December during my 25 Days of Blogging!

From TheYogiRD instagram!  Hanumanasana (Monkey pose) in honor of the New Year, the year of the monkey!

Now, to dive into Mardi Gras, aka Fat Tuesday.  Mardi Gras is a Christian festival (especially Roman Catholic) that marks the beginning of the season of fasting, called Lent.

The origins of this festival are thought to go back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility.  But many of today's celebrants do not know the true origins of this festival.  One thing is for certain, though, Mardi Gras is known for its vibrant colors, outstanding costumes, and big parties or celebrations!

Do you celebrate Mardi Gras?  What is your favorite celebration? 

Let me know in the comments, and while you're at it, don't forget to subscribe!!

25 Days of Blogging- Day 15: Holiday Weight Gain

Hi Friends!  We have officially gotten through 14 days of festivities that occur around the globe!  In case you missed one (or want to read through them again), this link will take you back to Day 2, for the first festival!  Let me know if you try any of the recipes shared thus far as well!!

Now, onto today’s topic:  Holiday Weight Gain.   

It is old news, really.  Many people go through the holidays eating loads of “special occasion” foods that tend to be not-so-good for our health or waistline.  Years ago, I followed this same path.  I would splurge on all of the desserts that I loved (I could honestly make a meal out of sweets if I thought it were healthy).  I would also feel uncomfortable that evening and a few days thereafter as my body worked in overdrive to clear out my blood and absorb the miniscule amount of nutrients it could find.  Now-a-days, it is a much different story...

 I have learned how to enjoy myself, feel good, and eat until I am satisfied!  Sounds too good to be true right?  Well, from my experience it is not.  But, you do have to love foods that love you back, and that can take some time if your taste buds are used to over-salted or over-sweetened, over-processed foods.  

 My number one tip to avoiding holiday weight gain: eat the whole plant foods in abundance first.  Then, if you are still craving some not-so-healthy treats (after your stomach is full of all the fiber and water from the healthy foods), go for it.  After eating like this for a few days or weeks, you may notice that you naturally begin to reach for those fresh whole foods instead of the other foods. 

 Now, since it is the holidays, be sure to enjoy yourself and don’t let a little thing like food get in the way of spending precious time with your family and friends.  The holidays can be stressful or blissful; it is all about how you view it and how you change your perception to see the bright side in all situations.

25 Days of Blogging - Day 14: Yule

Hi Friends!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, today is the last day of festivals as I have had a hard time finding enough for the full 25 days.  But don't fret!  I have some great recipes, yoga practices, and more for you over the next 11 days!!

On to today's post: 

Yule is a pagan festival that originated in Germany during the Middle Ages.  The term "Yuletide" is said to have originated in 1475!  In modern times, those who still celebrate Yule do so in many different ways according to their beliefs and practices.  This festival originally lasted 12 days during the end of December, but in some practices, has been shortened to 1-3 days. 

As for food traditions, pagan celebrations often follow seasonal items.  So, for this season, foods like fruit cakes, dried fruit, nuts, apples, spices, beans, and oranges are common choices.  That being said, one of the most common (and popular)  items at a Yule celebration must include Wassail.  Basically, wassail is either a spiced and warmed wine or juice.  This recipe makes a spiced and warmed juice:

Wassail Recipe
Ingredients:
8 cups apple juice or cider
2 cups cranberry juice
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp allspice
2 cinnamon sticks
1 orange
whole cloves


Directions
Turn the crockpot on high and pour in the apple and cranberry juices. Stir in the sugar and allspace, then add cinnamon sticks. Note:  You can also warm this over a low flame for a quicker cooking method.  Stud the orange with the cloves... about 25 or 30 cloves should do the trick.. and toss it in. Cover the pot and cook on high for 1 hour. Change the setting to low and allow to simmer for 3 more hours, then serve.

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 10: Boxing Day

Hi Friends!

I am getting used to this daily blogging thing!  I hope you are all enjoying reading it as much as I am researching and writing it!!  Please leave a comment for me, letting me know your favorite post thus far.  I really love getting comments...they make my whole day!!

Now, on to today's festival:  Boxing Day!  This celebration traditionally follows the day after Christmas (so December 26th on the Gregorian calendar), when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts known, as a Christmas box, from their employers.

This tradition began as early as the Middle Ages and is still a custom in some countries including Canada, Australia, England, and Ireland.

I could not find many recipes for this holiday, as it revolves around giving a gift.  So here's my gift to you:   

 5 people who subscribe to either this blog or my main website will receive a signed copy of my book, Medieval Feats and Marvelous Treats!!

25 Days of Blogging- Day 8: Hanukkah

Hi Friends!

Today's festival is celebrated in many different countries, and there are many traditions and customs involved.  I am talking about Hanukkah, an 8 day Jewish holiday to celebrate the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the 2ns century BCE.

This holiday lands on the 25th Kislev on the Hebrew calendar.  Some rituals include lighting one candle on the Menorah on each of the 8 nights, signing songs, reciting psalms, and exchanging presents.

One of the most famous of the traditional foods is the potato latke, right next to matzo, that is.

Here's a whole list of latke recipes, with a vegan recipe (and picture) below:

Picture and Recipe Link

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup quick-cooking oats or quinoa flakes
• 6 medium-large potatoes, grated
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• 1 medium onion, grated
• ½ cup matzo meal (or ½ cup additional quinoa flakes)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• Safflower or other high-heat vegetable oil for frying
• Applesauce and Vegan sour cream, optional

Directions:

In a heatproof bowl, combine the oats or quinoa flakes with 1½ cups boiling water. Stir and set aside while preparing the other ingredients.

Use a food processor to make the grating of the potatoes, carrot, and onion, much easier and quicker!

Combine the grated potato, carrot, and onion, and matzo meal in a mixing bowl. Stir in the oatmeal, then season with salt and pepper.

To fry: Heat just enough oil to coat the bottom of a large, nonstick skillet or griddle. Drop enough potato batter to form 2½- to 3-inch pancakes. Fry on both sides over medium-high heat until golden brown and crisp (alternatively, see baked variation following).

To bake: See Baked Latkes variation below recipe box.

Drain briefly on paper towels and place in a covered container to keep warm until serving. Serve warm with applesauce and the optional sour cream.

Read more at http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/vegan-latkes-potato-pancakes/#emFx8XF5M6Zvu8U3.99

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.