New Year Resolutions do not usually make it to the top of my list, but I am keeping some ideas on the back of my mind.

For a while now, I have been contemplating  getting back in shape, and improving my energy level.

I am also having a guilty feeling about not sticking to my healthy eating habits, and really miss the great feeling I experienced three years ago, after completing Phase I of The Fat Smash Diet.

I finally decided to follow The Fat Smash Diet once again, so this Monday, January 9th, I am starting Phase I  – Detox.

It would be great to have some company, so please join me, and you will LOVE yourself for it.

If you never tried this diet before, please read my post about The Fat Smash Diet, to get an overview of what to expect.

This is the easiest diet for me to follow, since during Phase I, the Detox period, I am not overly concerned about giving up coffee or alcohol;  I do not care much for either one of them anyway.

This past weekend I ventured out to get my special food shopping done.  I stocked up on a lot of fruits, raw vegetables, veggie burgers, brown rice, oatmeal, plain yogurt, and new Brita filters for my tap water.

I used to purchase bottled water, but after finding out that bottled water is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, yet tap water MUST meet certain standards, I decided to go back to my Brita filter system.

The Fat Smash Diet regimen requires a lot of water consumption.  Probably as much as I normally should be drinking, so now I will be much more conscientious about it, and actually do it right.

What I love about this particular diet, is that all the ALLOWED foods, are my favorite any way, and even though I still love all the BAD ones, it is good for me to get away from them for a while, and cleanse my system.

It is an easy way to lose weight, and most of all, feel so much better.

I am hoping to lose at least 7 pounds, but 10 would be even better.

I know I can do it, since last time I lost 15 pounds without too much effort, and only gained back 7 lbs.

Please wish me luck, and tell me that you are joining me!

Another year is passing us by, and a new one is just around the corner.

There is no better way to farewell an old year, and welcome in the NEW YEAR, than to do it with food and friends.

If you are planning such a fun gathering, and searching for some tasty appetizers, you stumbled upon the perfect site to get this information.

Since I am still dealing with leftovers from Christmas, I will not be posting new recipes this week, but will provide you with links to yummy recipes already posted.

Selection A:

• Tzatziki Dip
• Rye Bread Dip
• Hummus
• Chick Peas Vinaigrette
• Veggie Platter
• Ham Canapes

Selection B:

• Jalapeno Corn Dip
• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Seven Layer Guacamole Dip
• Swedish Meatballs
• Texas Caviar
• Caramel Apple Dip
• Mrs. Z’s Deviled Eggs
• Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomatoe Cheese Spread
• Honey Apple Brie Bites
• Turkey Taco Ring

Selection C:

If you are looking for a more substantial food selection, in addition to the appetizers, you may want to check these out:

• City Chicken
• Chicken Paprikash
• Chicken/Turkey Tetrazzini
• Calico Beans
• Homemade varenyky/perogy
• Cabbage Rolls (vegetarian, or with meat)

I believe this list should be very helpful for you, and by next year, I should have more recipes for you to try.

Enjoy your party.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

While most children are awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, many others are expecting a visit from St. Nicholas.

My grandchildren are very excited about receiving  gifts from St. Nicholas, since they also get to participate in plays and poetry recitals at our local church, and youth organization.

It makes this holiday that much more special, feeling like a star, performing on a stage at such a young age of three.

This year, my granddaughter received a Gingerbread House kit from St. Nicholas, and could hardly wait to get home, to get the project started with her mom.

She was very patient, following all the instructions from her mom, and very meticulous about positioning all the candy in the proper places ( sampling few here and there…that’s part of the fun).

She was so proud of her completed project, and so were we, so I promised that I will post some pictures on my blog.

This is the front entry to the Gingerbread house.  She was deciding on the colors and type of candy to use, and the positioning of the figures. Her mom handled the icing part.  The white base was part of the kit.

She decided on a back entry as well, including additional windows. How cute is that.  Maybe that’s grandma’s private entrance?

A side view.  As you will see, she decided to decorate the house from all sides.  Good thing there was plenty of candy with this kit.

View of the other side, and top of the roof.  Not sure what all the gum drops represent on the roof top??

Close up view of the roof with a chimney.  She was very excited about the chimney, so I needed to point it out as well.

If you are looking for fun projects to do with your children, or grandchildren, putting together a Gingerbread House is a wonderful idea.

It lets you spend quality time with them, and makes their imagination run wild.

If your children, or grandchildren are older, you may want to make a Gingerbread House from scratch.

Are you stressing out because the gift giving holidays are closing in on you, yet you are still battling with a myriad of thoughts on the perfect gift for that someone special?

No worries!!!

Suburbangrandma is here to offer some simple advice.

Fist of all, you should try to make your purchases from your local businesses, small gift shops, craft shows, bazaars, farmer’s markets, hospital gift shops, etc. This way you will not only find fabulous gift, you will also support your local community, rather than some foreign countries which employ children in sweatshops, or do not follow any labor laws.

So, here we go with some gift ideas:

Gift Cards:

• Car wash – everyone loves to have their car cleaned
• Grocery Store - who wouldn’t love free grocery???
• Paying someone’s utility bill
• Movie Theater – include the popcorn and a drink, if possible
• Local Restaurants -  (kids might like fast food places, and some adults stay loyal to their favorite franchise coffee shops…)
• Beauty Salon – from a simple hair cut, to a total papering package
• Massage - foot massage, facial, body massage

If your budget is tight, you can do special things for your loved ones.

These  are the “Gifts from the heart” – as I call them.  They require some funds to start with, but mainly lots of TLC, and time, to complete.

Handmade gifts:

• Decorative ornaments - for any holiday theme
• Home baked goods – nicely packaged in tins, holiday bags, or a cup
• Homemade candy – also nicely packaged for a special touch
• Crochet gifts – scarfs, hats, blankets, pot holders, place mats, bookmarks
• Cross stitched items - bookmarks, ornaments, linen dinner napkins
• Cookies-in-the-Jar – all the dry ingredients for a cookie recipe, with directions
• Soup-in-the-Jar – same idea as for above cookies in the jar
• Hot cocoa – packaged creatively

There are also great ideas for teenagers, who are too young to have a job, but old enough to carry out these chores for their parents, grandparents, or any special person in their life.

Personalized Coupons:

• Home cooked meal - anytime, or for a special occasion
• Babysitting -  give the parents a break, and some time for themselves
• House cleaning – I bet everyone would love this one
• Gardening – weeding, planting bulbs, watering, lawn mowing
• Pet sitting, or pet walking – this one might eventually turn into a paying job later on

BEST GIFT OF ALL – Share your time with someone.

• Someone special
• Someone you do not get to see very often
• Friend, or neighbor, who does not have anyone to talk on regular basis
  
• Someone in a nursing home, retirement center, or a hospital

There are a lot of adults, and children, who do not have many visitors, yet long for someone to stop by and say hello, and to share a few precious moments together.

See, I told you not to worry.

Now you are ready to complete your list, and do the right thing.

As always, I like to engage my readers to share their gift giving ideas with all of us.

Thank you!

It is a proven fact that with weather changes, we also experience health related changes.

There are more people suffering from cold, flu, and other ailments, during Winter season, than any other time of the year.  Wouldn’t you agree?

Our healthcare providers do not encourage us to get flu shorts for the Summer, but as soon as Autumn approaches, flu shot requests are as popular as the gold rush.

During cold weather we tend to crave comfort foods, relax more, sleep longer, and stay warm.  Warm drinks, and hearty soups, also gain popularity.

I came across a very interesting article written by Dr. Mao, about longevity and Five Chinese secrets of maintaining health and energy during the Winter season.

Winter: the sleep of nature

The winter season is when nature sleeps, and everything experiences the slowing of natural processes — even our bodies. Humans stopped hibernating like their ancestral cousins long ago, but our bodies still experience the natural inclination to slow down in winter. The winter is a time to come back to quietness and rebuild your energy reserves.

I encourage you to read the complete article to be ideally informed, but I will post the headings of the Five Chinese Secrets to Winter Health:

1. Early to bed, rise when the sun is up

2. Be contented

3. Nurture energy storage

4. Eat for the season: no raw, cold foods

5. Avoid coldness and linger around warmth

So, what do you think?

Were you surprised by any of the items you read about?

How do you change your lifestyle during the cold winter season?

photo in this post was received via email – author unknown

Sauerkraut soup, also known as “Kapusnyak”- in Ukrainian, or “Kapusniak” – in Polish, is a very refreshing, zestful, and  nutritious soup.

I like making Kapusnyak for Easter late afternoon meal, since in Ukrainian Easter tradition, very special foods are served for brunch, so Kapusnyak is a wonderful addition to this menu for an early afternoon meal.

It also gives me a chance to use the leftover shank bone from the baked ham, and some of the pan juices, which add wonderful flavor to the Kapusnyak.

Ingredients:

• 1 ham shank bone, with some meat on it
• 8 cups of water
• 1 whole onion
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 carrots, cubed
• 2 stalk celery, cut to large pieces
• 2 cups sauerkraut (drained, and rinsed out)
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 Tbs. Canola oil
• 2 Tbs. flour
• Sour cream (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 Tbs dill weed, chopped
• 2 dry Porcine mushrooms (optional)

Directions:

1. Fill a 6 quarts (or larger) soup pot  with  cold water.
2. Add the shank bone, and bay leaves, and some of the pan juices (these may be quite salty), and bring to boil.
3. Cook for 30 minutes.
4. Add whole onion, chopped carrots, celery, and 2 dry Porcine mushrooms.
5. Cook for 20 minutes.
6. Remove the celery stalks, whole onion, and the bay leaves.
7. Drain the sauerkraut, place on a colander, and rinse under a running, cold water, for about 2 minutes, continuously mixing it, to remove most of the sour juices.
8. Squeeze out, to drain the water, add to the soup pot.
9. Bring to boil, and cook for additional 30 minutes, or until kraut is tender.
10. Remove the whole mushrooms, chopped them up, and add back to soup.
11. Remove the shank bone, cut away the remaining meat, and add the meat back to soup.
12. Heat Canola oil in a sauce pan, add the chopped onions, and saute until golden.
13. Mix in 2 Tbs of flour to the onions, and brown lightly.
14. Gradually add some soup stock to this mixture, and mix well to creamy consistency (not lumpy), while cooking it for a couple of minutes, so it thickens.
15. Add to soup, and bring to boil.
16. Season the soup with salt and pepper, to taste.
17. Add chopped dill.
18. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, and fresh rye bread.

If you like creamy soups, you will enjoy this Broccoli Cheese Soup, which may also be served in a Bread Bowl, rather than the traditional soup bowl.

Cream soups are usually higher in calories, due to the creams and cheeses, but by preparing it yourself, you can lighten it up with low-fat cheese, and low-fat milk.

If you are not a big fan of broccoli as a side dish, you might surprise yourself, and really like this broccoli soup.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups potatoes, diced
• 1 cup carrots, sliced thin
• ½ cup celery, sliced thin
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 2 cups broccoli flowerets, separated to smaller pieces (or 16 oz. package frozen, chopped broccoli)
• 1 Tbs canola oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups of soup stock (I used chicken stock) see TIP below
• 1 cup of low-fat milk (see TIP below)
• 1 Tbs. corn starch, or flour
• 2 Tbs. butter
• 1/2 cup cheese, shredded (Swiss, Cheddar)
• 1/8 tsp ground thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Simmer potatoes, carrots, and celery in 4 cups of soup stock, for 20 minutes.
2. Add broccoli and cook for 7 more minutes.
3. Remove 1 cup of cooked broccoli, set aside.
4. Saute chopped onion in 1 Tbs of canola oil, until golden.
5. Add butter and minced garlic. Saute 1 minute longer.
6. Set aside.
7. Pour the soup into a blender, or food processor to puree it.
8. Return back to soup pot.
9. Add sautéed onions and garlic.
10. Mix corn starch, or flour, with 1/4 cup of milk, until smooth.
11. Add to the remaining milk, and pour into the soup.
12. Bring to boil.
13. Season with thyme, salt and pepper.
14. Mix in shredded cheese, until melted.
15. Fold in the reserved cooked broccoli.
16. Serve it hot.
17. You may also cool  it, refrigerate, and reheat before serving.

You can create quick bread bowls, by hollowing out crusty rolls, such as Portuguese Rolls, and serve the soup in them.

TIP:  You can prepare a quick soup stock by dissolving chicken, or vegetable bullion in water, per package directions.  You can also use ready-made stock, if you do not have time to make your own homemade stock.

For richer soup, and higher calories of course, you can use whole milk, or even cream and milk mixture.

You read my previous posts about the healing power of soup.

I shared a recipe for making your own soup stock, and now it’s time to cook some soups, and share the recipes with you.

Some people enjoy eating soup so much, that they even eat it as a late breakfast meal.

Many Europeans eat soup daily, and sometimes soup and sandwich is a perfect way to end a day, and call it a complete dinner.

Today I cooked Corn Potato Chowder, and I kicked it up a notch with some ground red pepper, to appease my husband’s taste for spicier tasting soups.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbs. Canola oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 5 cups of soup stock (meat or vegetable)
• 3 medium potatoes (I used red potatoes), cubed to dice size
• 4 cups frozen corn (16 oz bag)
• 3/4 cup of milk (whole or low fat – I used low fat)
• 2 Tbs. sour cream
• 1/4 cup chopped chives (to garnish soup before serving)
• Pinch of ground red pepper, or a couple of drop of hot pepper sauce (optional)
• Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Use a 6 quarts stockpot.
2. Pour 2 Tbs of canola oil into the stockpot, and heat it up over medium heat.
3. Add chopped onion, and celery.
4. Saute until onions begin to turn golden.
5. Add chopped garlic, and saute 1 minute longer.
6. Add peeled, cubed potatoes.
7. Pour in the soup stock.
8. Partially cover the pot, bring to boil, then reduce the heat to low.
9. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until potatoes are soft.
10. Use a potato masher, and pulse the potatoes (in the pot), about 5 times, to break them up a bit.
11. Add corn, and simmer for 8 minutes longer.
12. Using a slotted spoon, remove about 1 cup of the corn/potato mixture, place it in a food processor, or blender, and pulverize it (optional).
13. Return it back to the pot (this makes the soup a bit creamier).
14. Stir in milk, and heat for 2 minutes.
15. Turn off the heat.
16. Place the sour cream in a small bowl, temper it with some of the hot soup mixture, then mix it into the soup.
17. Season the soup with salt, black pepper, and red pepper (if using).
18. Serve hot, garnished with 1 tsp. of chopped chives.

Enjoy.

photo credit: Merelymel13

Today I will introduce you to the first step of making a homemade soup, which is making homemade soup stock.

Soup stock is the basic liquid part of the soup, to which you add all the other ingredients necessary to create your chosen kind of soup.

You can prepare a vegetarian soup stock, or a meat soup stock.

Vegetarian soup stock is made by simmering your favorite veggies, with added oil or butter, to enrich its flavor.

Meat soup stock requires either portions of actual meat, or bones with some meat on them.

My favorite (least expensive) meat soup stock is from the carcass of a leftover roasted whole chicken, or turkey, plus the flavorful leftover basting pan juices.

If you have been discarding these parts, you are throwing away the best base for a homemade soup stock.

Another great idea for meat soup stock is the shank bone from a baked ham, with some snippets of meat still on it, or the cut away bone from pork chops, leaving only boneless fillets for the main course.  I usually do not prepare my soups with beef stock.

Ingredients:

• 4 quarts of cold water
• 1- 1.5 lbs meat with bone (ham shank, 2 chicken wings plus breast bones, bones cut away from 4-6 pork chops,   1 chicken breast, or 1 carcass of a whole roasted chicken, or 1/2 carcass of a whole roasted turkey).
• 1 Tbs. salt
• 1 medium onion, whole
• 2 stalk of celery, cut to large chunks, crosswise
• 2 medium carrots, cut to large chunks, crosswise
• 1 parsley root ( optional)
• 3 garlic cloves, whole
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 peppercorns (whole black pepper grain)

Directions:

1. Fill a 6 quarts soup pot with 4 quarts of cold water, and set it on a stove top.
2. Rinse the meat and bones (if using raw meat), and add it to the pot of water.
3. Add salt, peppercorns, and bay leaves.
4. Cover, and turn the heat to high, until the water begins to steam.
5. Turn the heat down to medium, and bring it to a low boiling point.
6. Using a large serving spoon, skim and discard the frothy mixture accumulating on the top surface of the water, until almost all gone. (This will make your stock nice and clear).
7. Lower the heat to simmering, place a lid (partially covered) over the pot, to prevent the liquids from excessive evaporation, and from steaming up your kitchen.
8. Let it summer for 1 – 1.5 hours.
9. Add chopped vegetables, whole onion, parsley root, and garlic cloves.
10. Simmer 30 minutes longer.
11. Add more salt, if needed.
12. Strain the stock over a strainer, into a clean container.
13. Cool off, and store.
14. You can store the soup stock in the fridge for a couple of days, if you plan to use it for soup, otherwise pour it into zip lock freezer bags, and freeze it for later use.

TIP:   If I plan to cook soup the same day as the stock, I add the whole onion in step 3, and strain the stock in step 8.  While the  stock is cooking, I chop ( into dice size pieces) all the veggies required for the type of soup I am making, and add them to the stock right after straining it in step 8.

Preparing homemade soup, of any kind, is a simple process.

If you are able to boil water, and chop veggies, you are a budding soup chef.

I mean it. It is that simple.

Cooking soup requires some very basic ingredients:

• Soup stock (ready-made, or homemade)
• Your favorite vegetables
• Your favorite herbs
• Pasta, rice , or other favorite grains
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Some soups might need additional flavor enhancers:

• tomato paste
• cheese
• eggs
• heavy cream, or milk
• vinegar
• lemon juice
• wine

The reason soup is easy to prepare, is that you are able to alter its taste and texture, throughout the entire cooking process; unlike baking breads and pastries, or preparing main course dishes.

Did I convince you yet that you ARE able to prepare some yummy soup?

Next time I will show you how to make some soup stock, since it is very easy to prepare, and much cheaper than buying it ready-made.