A Rare Moment

Yearning for time for myself, I did something different this morning. Instead of the usual routine of making breakfast, putting away dishes, and turning on the morning news, I decided to try something new.

I made myself a hot cup of tea and waited for the sun to rise. I closed my eyes and took in 10 deep breaths, focusing on the energy going in through my nose and out through my mouth (Thanks Bikram Yoga!). I repeated my affirmations (Something new I am trying). I said all the things I was grateful for in my life right now (I should do this every day!).

Pure Julia time. No obligations. No looking at the list of things to do. The dishes could wait. I wasn't hungry yet. CJ and Christopher were still asleep. I was making myself a priority and making time for me.

I've always been able to carve time for myself whether it was to paint my nails, read a fashion magazine or watch a TV show uninterrupted. Today, I was slowing things down...way, way down. I can honestly say I lived in the moment.

I was just...being.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

I love smoothies. They're just an easy way to have some variety in our diet. It's also an easy way to use up fruit and veggies that are sitting in the fridge just asking to be eaten. This recipe is super easy and something I know all three of us will enjoy.

I have been trying to provide healthy snacks for Christopher. Cheerios, bread and crackers are too easy to hand to him. Sure, they're easy to give, but I feel guilty feeding it to him every day.

Strawberry and Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

Handful of strawberries
2 Bananas
1/4-1/2 cup of almond milk (whole milk for babies)

Instructions:

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend away!

Quick Beef and Vegetable Soup

Winter is for comforting foods. My favorite thing to cook during the winter: soups! I'm always trying new soup recipes. No soup discrimination going on in this house. While I love a good bone broth, sometimes I just don't have the time for it. I need quick meals done in 30 minutes or less.

This soup recipe is one of my faves this season. It's easy, healthy and I feel really good about feeding it to my family.

The great thing about this soup is that you can really use whatever veggies you have in the fridge. You could even omit the beef and make it a veggie soup. Oh, the possibilities.

Quick Beef and Vegetable Soup

Inspired by Taste of Home

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
Large can of chicken broth
1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes (don't drain)
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
Frozen vegetables (peas, corn, carrots, beans)
1 can of garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
Half a medium onion, chopped
Italian seasoning

Instructions:

Cook ground beef and onion in a skillet until cooked. Drain.

In a pot, boil the chicken broth and add in the beef, onions, and all the other ingredients. Bring to a boil and let it simmer for 10 minutes.


Julia's Notes: I serve this with rice, but I'm sure it will taste great with crusty bread or a sandwich. Minced garlic would be great. Thought about adding mini pasta to this - maybe next time. Super easy and quick recipe!

National Hug Day

Today is NATIONAL HUG DAY! Go out and hug someone!

THE 10 BENEFITS OF HUGGING

(www.nationalhuggingday.com)

1)    Hugs make us feel “happy”! When we hug another person, our bodies release oxytocin, a hormone associated with “happiness,” according to scientific studies.

2)    Hugs alleviate stress! Just as a good hug increases our oxytocin levels, it decreases our cortisol or “stress” levels.

3)    Babies need hugs as much as water and food! According to researchers at Harvard University, hugs help promote normal levels of cortisol necessary for child development.

4)    Hugs make us better students! Students who receive a supportive touch from a teacher are twice as likely to volunteer in class.

5)    Hugs improve our game! Scientists at University of California, Berkley discovered that the more affectionate members of a team are with each other, the more likely they are to win.

6)    A hug a day keeps the doctor away! A hug stimulates the thymus gland, which in turn regulates the production of white blood cells that keep us healthy and disease-free.

7)    A hug stops the bug! Researchers at Carnegie Mellon proved that individuals who were sick and received hugs had less severe symptoms and were able to get better quicker.

8)    A hugging heart is a healthy heart! Research from University of North Carolina showed that a good hug helps ease blood flow and lower cortisol levels, which in turn help lower our heart rates.

9)    A hugging couple is a happy couple! Couples that experience their partners’ love through physical affection share higher oxytocin levels.

10)    Hugs let someone know you care without having to say a word! According to Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley, we can identify love from simple human touch – imagine how much love a big hug can communicate!

If you want to be happy...

How To Cook the Perfect Prime Rib Roast

2015! Yeah, yeah. I'm a little overdue with a post. The holidays had it busy moments and wonderfully-filled with oodles of #CJuliaChristopher time. It was perfect. The new year crept up on us, CJ and I got back to work mode and looking at the calendar, it's already mid-January. Time. Flies. Too. Fast.

I've been doing a ton of cooking the past several weeks, which means lots of recipes to post!

For Christmas Eve, I had my family come over for a prime rib dinner. That's right. Prime rib. I was so nervous before and during the cooking. It's an expensive piece of meat and it's the main star of the meal, so if I messed this up, everyone was going to be eating a lot of sides. I bought the most expensive meat thermometer (the wireless kind) and guess what? It decided to break! No worries though, because no snafu was going to mess up this dinner I had planned two weeks ahead for. With a little bit of luck and great timing, the prime rib roast turned out delicioso. That's Spanish for delicious, in case you're wondering.

I found a pin on Pinterest that basically turned out to be the bible for prime rib roasting. From choosing the right meat to carving directions, it had every bit of information needed to succeed.

How to Cook the Perfect Prime Rib Roast

 

 

Normally, I include the cooking instructions in my posts, however, there is so much information, I can not pick and choose. I highly suggest reading the entire thing. I followed the directions exactly and I got great results. A friend made this without bringing the meat to room temperature and hers turned out well, so I think you may be able to skip that step.

 

GOOD LUCK and HAPPY COOKING!

 

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!