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One of the problems we all face is how to maintain a diet during the holiday season. Undoubtedly for some it is fasting the week before Thanksgiving. There is less guilt when sitting down to enjoy this delicious feast. This has sometimes been the norm rather than the exception.
To avoid having to fast or go on a crash diet and still be able to enjoy the holiday fare, here are some tips for sticking to the diet maintained all year long without having to worry about the guilt and the added pounds.
Experts recommend drinking a few glasses of water and having a protein snack before beginning a holiday feast. There is an old expression, to wit; never go food shopping on an empty stomach. The same applies to the holidays. If preparing the holiday meal or being invited to a family gathering, eat a snack beforehand and drink water to alleviate the need to begin nibbling before the sit down meal commences.
Prepare a vegetable tray for guests with a low fat dip. If you have been invited to someone’s home, bring a vegetable tray as well. It is not only healthy but is a wonderful alternative for others who may be dieting as well.
Check out some recipes online that can be incorporated in preparing holiday meals and which offer substitutes for high-fat content. In addition, instead of the array of desserts traditionally served every year, why not make an angel food cake and top it with berries and low fat whipped cream. Serve vegetables along with the Christmas ham. If serving a salad use low fat dressing. A delicious homemade vegetable soup can be prepared as a second course instead of pasta.
There are so many different ways in which to use alternative foods during the holidays, yet still enjoy every morsel. Moreover, portion control is the key to maintaining any diet. We all know that holiday fare consists of many courses. Take a walk with family members or friends in between courses.
If the weather permits, play a game of touch football in the backyard.
While these are just some tips to help stick to the diet you have maintained all year long, you can still enjoy the holidays. Substitute foods high in fat with recipes that are just as pleasing to the eye and palate as the traditional foods offered during the holiday season.
The origin of the Dreidel has an interesting background. Apparently, when the Jewish people were under the rule of Antiochus, the Greek leader of Syria, Egypt and Judea, they were barred from studying the Torah.
The Dreidel was devised as a ruse by the Jews in order to make it seem as if they were playing a game instead of studying the Torah. Thus, whenever the Greeks approached, the Jews would hide the books, bring out the Dreidel, and begin to spin it as in a game.
The Dreidel is a four-sided top which has four distinct letters in Hebrew on each side.
The object of the game is to spin the Dreidel and collect coins or candy depending upon what letter appears after each spin.
Each player puts one coin or candy into the center of the table. This is called the pot. Then each player spins the Dreidel and depending upon what letter appears, this determines what each player will or will not receive.
The explanation of each letter is as follows: “nun” means a player receives nothing, “gimel” means a player can take all of the coins or candy in the pot, “hay” means the player can only take half of the pot, and “shin” means the player has to place one coin or piece of candy into the pot. Whoever winds up with the most coins or candies at the end of the game wins.
Now here is an interesting tidbit. A similar game using a spinning top had been played for centuries in Europe as a means to gamble. For example, the letters used in English speaking countries would be T, H, P, and N meaning take, half, put and none.
In addition, research indicates that the Hebrew letters actually originated in Germany where a similar toy was manufactured. Nonetheless, the Hebrew letters signify a phrase which means “a great miracle happened here.”
Moreover, research has also revealed that one of the letters on the Dreidel has been changed – shin is now called “pay.” In addition, the Israelis changed the word Dreidel to Sivivon, derived by the Hebrew word sovev meaning to turn.
A classic dish, simplified!
Ingredients:
3 to 4 cups chopped pecans
2 8-ounce cans refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1/2 cup sugar1 teaspoon cinnamon
GLAZE:
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions:
Unroll one can of the crescent dough into two long rectangles and put it in a 9×13 baking dish, pressing to the sides to make a crust. Press together any seams across the middle and sides. Bake this crust for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F. Mix together pecans, sugar and cinnamon. Spread this mixture evenly over crust. Unroll the second can of the crescent dough into long rectangles again, laying over top of the mixture to create a top crust and pressing to edges of the pan to close. Cut lengthwise and diagonal vents in the crust, be creative and make a pattern of diamonds and crosses if you want.
Time to make the glaze. Combine all the ingredients for glaze in a saucepan and bring them to a boil. Spoon half of glaze evenly over the top dough. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Spoon the remaining glaze over the hot baklava as soon as it comes out of the oven. Cool on wire rack at least one hour before moving to the refrigerator to chill until ready to eat.
Review: San Disk Sansa M240 1GB MP3 Player
I have never been a overly huge fan of technology until I realized that for a homeschool mom it could come in very handy. Both my daughter and I have the San Disk Sansa M240 1GB MP3 Player
and we just bought another one for my son for Christmas.
and we just bought another one for my son for Christmas.
I didn’t realize the possibilities until I noticed that our library has audio downloads on their website. Which meant we could download and listen to classical books, learn a foreign language and much more. For a parent on a budget the San Disk is nicely priced. Download media player for free or itunes and put their favorite cds onto it. No more scratching the cds.
This is becoming a favorite tool of mine. My daughter downloaded a free chinese language course through the University of California and learns while we are in the car or at the Doctor’s office.
I highly recommend if you haven’t gotten one to consider adding this to your favorite homeschool tools.
It seems that time of year has hit where we are getting hit by colds. My poor son has been on the couch since yesterday afternoon with coughs and sniffles.
Colds are a common annoyance in the winter. The coughing, stuffy nose and lack of energy can really slow you down. While there is no cure for the common cold, there are ways to reduce its severity and make it go away more quickly.
There are numerous over-the-counter cold remedies available at the drug store. Natural remedies usually have fewer side effects and more health benefits. Here are some natural remedies for colds and coughs.
Lemon Juice and Honey
Lemon juice contains lots of vitamin C, one of the best vitamins for the immune system. Honey soothes the throat and helps combat cough. Diluting the juice of a lemon in a glass of warm water and adding a teaspoon of honey makes a simple but effective cold and cough remedy.
You could also add a few teaspoons of lemon juice and honey to ginger tea. Ginger is great for the immune system as well. Drinking either of these recipes once or twice a day will help you fight off a cold and reduce your symptoms.
Garlic
Garlic is a powerful antibiotic and anti-fungal. There are a number of ways that you can use it to fight off a cold.
* You can make garlic soup. This is done by boiling three or four cloves of garlic in a cup of water. Eat it once a day until your symptoms are gone.
* You can eat it raw. It is most effective this way, but some people can’t stand the taste. Juicing it and adding to other juices or the tea recipe above can make it more palatable. You could infuse it in vinegar or use it in a recipe that calls for raw garlic.
* Garlic tablets are a good alternative for those who just can’t stomach garlic. They are not as effective as regular garlic though.
Spicy Foods
If you are suffering from congestion there’s nothing like something hot and spicy to open up the nasal passages. Adding a sprinkle of cayenne pepper to any soup will help clear the sinuses and warm you up. If you feel up to eating a spicy curry is also great for this purpose.
Natural Supplements
There are numerous natural supplements that you can take to help get rid of a cold. Echinacea is an herb that stimulates the immune system and can shorten the duration of a cold. A large dose of vitamin C taken at the beginning of a cold may make symptoms less severe and taking the standard dose while you are sick may facilitate a quicker recovery. Doses higher than 2,000 milligrams a day, however, can be harmful.
Having a cold is no fun. Although you will have to wait for it to pass, there are natural remedies that can reduce both symptoms and duration. These remedies have fewer side effects and are often less expensive than the cold medicines sold at the drug store.
In addition to the many interactive games for kids to play online during Hanukkah, here are some additional games and crafts they may enjoy.
* The kids can play the Dreidel game. Instead of chocolates, healthy foods such as nuts or dried fruits can be used to put in the pot.
* A variation of musical chairs, have the kids sit on the floor and pass around a Dreidel while a CD is being played. When the music stops, whoever has the Dreidel in hand is eliminated. Continue until one child is left. The winner gets to keep the Dreidel.
* Here is a fun craft for kids. They can make a Menorah using construction paper. They can find and print out a Menorah online, then trace it onto white construction paper. With either crayons or magic markers, they can color the Menorah and proudly hang it in their bedroom or attach it to the refrigerator with a magnet.
* Another fun craft is to make a Star of David chain to hang in the home. They can trace the star using different color construction paper, cut out the stars and using a needle and heavy thread, loop the thread through the top point of the star.
* Kids can also make the Star of David to stick on your front window. All they need is construction paper, scissors and scotch tape. They can design the star, cut it out and scotch tape it to the window. They can also do the same with a handmade picture of a Menorah.
Teaching children from an early age the significance of Hanukkah as well as all of the Jewish Holidays and their meaning is as important as celebrating it with games and crafts.
Reminding them of the symbolism behind the Menorah and the Feast of Lights is a long-standing tradition. As the song goes, tradition allows for the continuity of one’s culture and heritage as the world around them is constantly changing.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
2 (2.45 ounce) packages whole unblanched almonds*
Instructions:
Cream the sugars into the butter. Add eggs, one egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually add the flour, baking soda and cinnamon. Lastly add the chopped almonds and try to distribute as evenly as possible. Split dough in half and shape into log like rolls. Wrap the rolls in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or until ready to bake. Slice about 1/4 inch thick and top each slice with a whole almond (*you can substitute sliced almonds if you don’t want to use whole ones). Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown edges start to appear, then cool on wire racks.
I found a really nice article on Jewish homeschooling and wanted to post it. While resources are limited for Jewish families, there seems to be more resources popping up when you google Jewish homeschooling.
As you begin observing Hanukkah, you may read stories about this important time to your children. You may also come upon certain terms associated with Hanukkah which you may want to explain to your children. Here are some of the more important terms used.
Chanukah or Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is commemorated by lighting a Menorah or candelabra which has eight branches or candleholders. In addition, it also has a Shamash or the master light with which you light the other eight.
The Dreidel is a four-sided spinning toy which has four distinct Hebrew letters on each side symbolizing the sentence “Nes Gadol Haya Po” which translated means “A great miracle has happened here.” The Dreidel is used to play a game in which each player spins and depending upon the letter that is displayed on the Dreidel, they add to, take half, take all or take nothing from the center of the table. These may include candies and coins which each player contributes before the start of each game.
The Torah is composed of the five books of Moses. Due to the fact that Jews were prohibited from studying the Torah under the rule of Antiochus, they would use the Dreidle as a ruse whenever the Greeks happened to pass by. Thus, the Greeks would think a game was being played as the Torah was always hidden from them.
The Menorah is lit on the first night of Hanukkah in commemoration of the miracle of the oil. It symbolizes the time when the Maccabee fought Antiochus’ army and were victorious. After which, they restored the Holy Temple and though they only had enough oil to light the Menorah for one night, it remained lit for eight days.
The Mezuzah or more commonly known as door post is usually seen outside the front door of a home and attached to the right side of the doorway. It is a small case which houses the first two sections of the Shema inside of it. It is a reverent prayer which affirms one’s Jewish faith. This prayer is said every morning and evening by religious Jews.
This is a great appetizer and not as hard to make as it sounds.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup chopped green olives
3/4 cup chopped kalamata olives
1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
3/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts
5 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
4 Roma (plum) tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
3 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh garlic
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Salt and pepper
1 (8 ounce) jar grape leaves packed in brine
Instructions:
Once everything is chopped and crumbled put it in a big mixing bowl and toss with salt and pepper to taste. You want to chop everything small and fine because you want them to come out bite sized for appetizers. Lay each grape leaf flat and spoon some of the mixture to the middle. Roll them up and stick with an appetizer toothpick to hold. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
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