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For those of you who love collard greens and black-eyed peas for the New Year, here’s an awesome soup that incorporates both of those traditional foods in one big pot. Try it and enjoy!!
COLLARD GREEN SOUP
3 32oz boxes of chicken broth
1 16oz smoked sausage link, sliced
1 large onion, chopped
½ tsp. red pepper flakes
3 cups fresh collard greens, chopped
(pre-washed, bagged works well too)
½ cup uncooked rice
2 15oz cans black-eyed peas, drained
Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 min. Add fresh collards to above broth. Bring back to boil, add rice, reduce heat, and cook for 25 min. until rice is tender. Add the 2 cans of peas and simmer 10 more min. GREAT with cornbread!!!
The 50th Annual Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia will be the Helen’s biggest celebration! Come Enjoy German music, food, drinks and dancing, including waltzes, polkas and the chicken dance! Oktoberfest will run daily beginning Sept. 30 and continues through Nov. 7, 2021.
For five weeks, bands will perform at the Festhalle where crowds will gather to enjoy German music and dance and taste and eat authentic German food, beer and drinks.
Like in Germany these celebrations are wildly different from weekday to weekend. The Festehall is located at 1074 Edelweiss Strasse in Helen. It will be open Thursday through
Helen’s restaurants, shops and attractions make Oktoberfest something on truly can enjoy.
The festival originated on October 12, 1810, in celebration of the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Today, Oktoberfest, annual festival in Munich, Germany, is held over a two-week period and ending on the first Sunday in October.
A New Year A New you
As 2014 comes to an end, many of us will begin 2015 with resolutions to make improvements in the New Year. Statistics show that 1 out of every 3 people make New Year’s Resolutions, but only about 75% stick with them longer than a week. Less than half stick with them longer than six months. Setting goals for self-improvement is a good thing, but they must be reasonable to be accomplished. Resolutions must focus on simple, specific goals to result in the victory of success throughout the year. Hopefully 12 months of success will result in lifelong habits that will continue for many years to come. The ultimate outcome is a BETTER YOU!!
Here are some suggestions from a self-professed goal setter who has experienced success, as well as some resolution failures, over the years.
- Be specific with your goals. For example, I will workout 4 days a week, or I will eat 5 servings of healthy veggies every day.
- Tell your resolutions to the others in your household, or those in your inner circle if you live alone. Ask them to help hold your accountable. Request that they do not sabotage your goals. We all need support, not obstacles to accomplish our goals.
- Get back on track if you lose your way for a day or two. Do not allow a slight slip to turn into a goal failure. Don’t beat yourself up over a day or two off track. A few days away from your focused goal shouldn’t justify total abandonment.
- Share your joy of accomplishment with others along the way, or write about them in a journal to record your successes and reflect on how you feel (the good and the frustrating parts…….in reality, you’ll have both).
- Celebrate and reward yourself at the end of each month.
In January 2012 I set a resolution to run (okay, walk) a 5k every month for a year. A friend agreed to join me, and we made a vow to hold each other accountable for staying on track. That 12-month goal has now resulted in 36 straight months of 5ks, sometimes even 2-3 a month. Other results of that simple resolution have been:
- Support of deserving causes and charities
- Meeting new people
- Increased stamina……my walking is now running
- Improved health
- Improved self-confidence
- Victory of success
Happy New Year…….may your 2015 be full of joy and accomplished resolutions!!
Holiday cheer is here!!! As you prepare for the season by shopping, decorating, partying, eating, eating, and more EATING, it’s a big challenge to remain on a healthy diet free of processed foods and too much sugar. The holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year brings such a variety of activities. Time with family, friends and co-workers usually includes eating meals or snacks. Facing reality the first week in January will include guilt and weight gain for many. How can that be avoided without missing out on the holiday spirit?
The answer to that question is to have a plan and stick to it. Eating protein, vegetables and healthy fats is important no matter the time of year, but sticking to that routine is extra important during the hectic holiday season. Here are a few guidelines to help you stay on track in the coming weeks:
*Eat a balanced breakfast consisting of a protein (egg, almond butter, or plain Greek yogurt), veggies (most days) and fat. (bacon, sausage or avocado) That meal will jumpstart your day and fuel you until lunch. If the temptation of cookies, cakes, holiday treats faces you in the workplace, your ammunition will be a full tum
my from a healthy breakfast.
*Eat a healthy lunch that will hold you over till dinner. Same as mid-morning temptations, mid-afternoon snacks will not be as tempting if you had a filling lunch. A protein, some veggies and a healthy fat will keep you from overindulging in the afternoon. A salad with some chicken or tuna added, or even leftovers from the night before will keep it healthy.
*Sip on flavored hot tea or tea with lemon when you get a sudden urge to do something you know you will regret. Peppermint tea is very soothing and keeps with the holiday flavors. Sweet & Spicy by Good Earth packs a spicy punch and will make you think you’re having something you shouldn’t. YUM-MO!! Even warm water with lemon has a soothing effect as well as a variety of health benefits. Fitting that in during the holidays would be great,!
*Plan simple dinners with a healthy protein and lots of veggies, or healthy homemade soups or chili during the week when you know your weekends will be dinners out or holiday parties.
*MOVE!!!!! Being active will help you deal with the craziness. Just go for a walk, breath deeply and soak up the Christmas spirit.