December is probably one of our most social months. People throw parties, families get together, friends drop in to wish you well. With a little forethought, purposeful shopping and some cooking and prepping when time is available, you can make entertaining easier on yourself and reduce the usual holiday-time stress.[Read More…]
Emerald Valley Almanac
It’s Chanukah time
This year from sundown, Dec. 18 – 26, Jews worldwide commemorate Chanukah, a Jewish holiday which celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the larger Syrian army. This holiday also celebrates a miracle that happened during this time, where just a day’s supply of oil allowed the menorah light in[Read More…]
It’s a wrap!
With the price of everything going up, we’re all looking for ways to save money. While not a huge savings, eschewing wrapping paper and purchased gift boxes can reduce holiday costs and give you a chance to show off your creative side as well. Instead of rolls of wrapping paper,[Read More…]
Mood-boosting chocolate
As we enter winter, many folks are sharing with me in my work as a nutritional health coach that the shorter and darker days are impacting their mood. It’s not uncommon for folks living in the rainy northwest to experience SAD or “Seasonal Affect Disorder.” One of my favorite suggestions[Read More…]
Food handling tips for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time when family and friends gather together and have a feast. Unfortunately, that feast often results in cases of food-borne illness – otherwise known as food poisoning. And turkey is the biggest culprit. Proper food handling can reduce the chance of making someone sick this year. To[Read More…]
Paleo pancakes: Simple and delicious
Full confession here, I love pancakes. Over the years I’ve visited many restaurants made famous by their amazing pancakes. One location that comes to mind is Walker Brother Pancakes near Chicago, famous for their “table size” pancakes. Could pancakes be the ultimate comfort food (other than waffles), you can decide[Read More…]
What to do with post-Halloween pumpkins (or other squash)
Squash are very versatile vegetables (fruit, actually) to have around. Pumpkins are a subgroup of squash, vaguely defined. The large ones sold for Halloween are often not very good for eating. Some small varieties are grown for baking. The ‘pumpkin’ you buy in a can is actually one or more[Read More…]
Fall DIY comfort foods
What says comfort for lunch and dinner on a crisp and cool day? In my book it’s a hot bowl of tomato soup and crispy crackers. This is a great way to use the abundance of tomatoes you picked from your garden. Enjoy these simple DIY (money-saving) recipes, be creative[Read More…]
Stop bugging me!
This time of year it is common for swarms of various insects to attach themselves to your house – south facing walls in particular. They are attracted to the warmth, and looking for somewhere to over-winter. Most commonly seen are ladybugs, box elder bugs and marmorated stink bugs. The latter[Read More…]
Shush! Noise and its impact
There is much noise in today’s world, drowning out sounds of nature. Natural sounds are usually soothing, and research shows that they are beneficial to our well-being. We all know cities are noisy – and the bigger the city, the noisier it is. But extraneous noise is not confined to[Read More…]
