Around here we make tons of soup for the long cold winter days.  I recently saw an article about making homemade bread and how easy it was and how well it pairs with a bowl of winter soup.  I did some research and found a really easy recipe for making homemade bread.  Just a few ingredients, a bread pan and hot oven and voila!!!  Last weekend my son had a bunch of college friends come and stay with us.  We had just made 2 loaves of this bread.  OMG!!  They could not get enough…they LOVED it.  I did feel a little like Little House on the Prairie and that we might be churning our own butter next!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HA!!!  But honestly, the bread was a total winner!!!!  Give it a try this weekend!!!  Bon Appetit!!!!!!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 2-1/4 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 6-1/4 to 6-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

I recently received an article from Sarah Davis of Body Balance 365 about Staying on Track after the holidays.  I absolutely love her suggestions and thought I would share them with you….I am really going to try to share more wellness posts in the New Year!!!  Here is an awesome start………

1. Take a class! It really is that simple. Not only is it a great workout, but it will give you more energy for the rest of the day, and also lift your spirits. Added bonus—exercises that are weight bearing, will boost your metabolism for a full 24 hours, so maybe you can even have a second cookie?  2. Hydrate! As temperatures drop, and we no longer feel “hot” during the day, we often forget to drink enough water. The temptation to have an extra coffee at 4:00 as it begins to get dark, only further increases your need to drink more water. Throw in a cocktail or two, and you are officially dehydrated. While cold water may be less appealing this time of year, sipping hot water with lemon and herbal teas throughout the day is a great way to stay hydrated. Keep your water pitcher or Brita on the kitchen counter so water stays at room temperature, and always bring a water bottle to class. Even if you don’t feel like you are “sweating”, your muscles always perform better when you are well hydrated.

3. Watch the sugar! And I don’t mean cookies…Sugar is everywhere—it is in bread, yogurt, condiments, marinades, and even salad dressings. Always be sure to read labels. While some sugar is absolutely fine, it is easy to overindulge, which leaves you feeling puffy and with low energy. Taking a class will help you sweat out the toxins and eliminate further sugar cravings. You can’t argue with that… 4. Cook more! Or at least eat more meals at home. Making a smoothie before a morning class gives you the perfect balance of protein, fats, fiber, and “plants” to survive anything else the instructor can throw at you! Make a big salad for lunch or a pot of soup, and then no matter where the evening takes you, your body has had two nourishing meals of whole unprocessed foods–and a great workout. Even at the “healthiest” restaurants you still cannot control what you are putting into your body. 5. Get outside! Living in Rye, I often see women walking to and from the Go Figure studio, walking their dogs after class, or meeting a friend from class to talk a long walk later in the day. Such a perfect compliment to strength work—and the vitamin D and oxygen to the brain cannot be found on a treadmill! It may be hard to rally during the cold winter months, but the benefits of exercising outdoors, combined with the socialization of seeing a friend are so good for our health. Put down your To-Do list and take a fast walk around the block to clear your head—extra credit if you call a friend to join you. See if you can incorporate all five of these tips into your week. The combination of a healthy diet and exercise  is your best weapon to not get sick and feel your best.

Today’s Book Club Monday choice is A Gentleman In Moscow: A Novel.  It is by Amor Towles, the author of another of my favorite books, The Rules of Civility!!!  The story is of a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel….Here is the summary:

I am starting the daunting task of taking down my decorations!!!!  UGHHHHHHHHHHH.  I always struggle with the best way to store everything.  I finally purchased a bunch of these Ikea Storage Bags to keep everything neat and tidy.  However after searching the web, I found some brilliant ideas using items lying around your home to keep all your decorations organized until next year.  Happy De-Christmasing!!!!!

Before you get rid of that tree, cut off some branches and arrange them in decorative vases to get you through the dark January/February days.  Add a few other branches of holly, twigs or pinecones too…

I am sitting here in the middle of this crazy” bomb cyclone” thinking of what we can do next……I wanted to find a recipe that would use ingredients that most people had on hand at home and would be a comfort food to enjoy during this storm..We are definitely making this tonight!!!  Bon Appetit!!!!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, more for greasing pan
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup sugar
•  Pinch salt
• ½ loaf bread cut into 2-inch cubes (about 5 to 6 cups)
• 2 eggs, beaten

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan over low heat, warm milk, butter, vanilla, sugar and salt. Continue cooking just until butter melts; cool. Meanwhile, butter a 4-to-6-cup baking dish and fill it with cubed bread.
2. Add eggs to cooled milk mixture and whisk; pour mixture over bread. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until custard is set but still a little wobbly and edges of bread have browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.