Happy New Year!!

Another year has just about gone and where am I?

I've lost some weight, I'm in more pain, can't walk as far with my stick as I could last year, discovered I was really anemic, haven't been able to control my blood sugars, and became a Senior Community Host on the Prevention site. So it was a mixed bag.

The good news was a friend and her husband had a healthy baby boy. Yay Rio!!

My son got a job and seems to like it.

My parents seem to be in good health but my sister isn't.

We discovered this year that some of my paternal grandmother's step siblings died in concentration camps or in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II.

So what will 2008 have in store for me? Well, my 40th high school reunion. Am I that old? I haven't been to any of them and would love to go to this one. Sarah!! Send me an invite please.

I'm planning on visiting the states again in 2008, in the late Spring, early Summer. I hope to visit the Prevention office in New York City and meet some of the descartesbabes. Spend a night or 2 in NYC so other Babes can come up/over so we can finally meet.

I want to get my blood sugar down so I will feel better and keep my vision and feet. I want to lose weight too.

I signed up for 'Choose to Move' with the American Heart Association.

http://www.choosetomove.org/

12 Week Overview

Whether you're a busy mom, a career woman, or enjoying your golden years, Choose To Move can help you become more physically active. This step-by-step program takes you through simple exercises and offers great tips for increasing your physical activity and reaching your goals.

Over the next 12 weeks, you'll learn new strategies to improve your health. Each week, you'll focus on developing new skills that will help you accomplish your objectives. You also can download charts and worksheets to help you track your progress. It may be helpful to keep these documents in a special binder so you can refer to them throughout the program.

It's important not to skip ahead since Choose To Move uses a one-step-at-a-time approach.

Week 1: Choosing to move

Week 2: Creating a plan of action

Week 3: Strengthening your resolve

Week 4: Accentuating the positive

Week 5: Avoiding traps and trip-ups

Week 6: Reaching for more

Week 7: De-stressing the stressed out

Week 8: Finding community resources

Week 9: Lapsing and snapping back

Week 10: Staying motivated

Week 11: Planning for the future

Week 12: Keep moving, keep choosing


I'm going to download the charts tomorrow and really start in earnest with this.

I'll also be following The South Beach Diet, which is good for diabetics and vegetarians to use.

So I wish you all a happy and healthy new year.

Happy Xmas!!

Happy Xmas everyone!






No snow as usual. The weather person said today was either going to be foggy or soggy. Where I live turned out to be foggy.

Tomorrow is Boxing Day so most shops will be closed, buses and trains won't be running.

I hope that you and yours had a wonderful day together. Those traveling a safe journey.

My son finds the most unusual and funny sites. Have a look.

http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1780730337

Happy Hanukkah!!

Chag Sameach!!!


It's the second night of Hanukkah and I thought I would share some recipes.

Latke..serves 5-6

4 large potatoes (2 cups when grated)
2 beaten eggs
4 level tbsp self-raising flour or 4 level tbsp plain flour and 1 level tsp baking powder
1 level tsp salt
pinch of pepper

Grate potatoes so finely that they are almost a pulp.
Leave in a sieve to drain for 10 minutes.
Put in a bowl and add the remaining ingredients.
In a heavy frying pan put enough oil to come to a depth of 1/2 inch.
When it is hot, put in tablespoons of mixture, flattening each latke with the back of spoon.
Cook over steady moderate heat, 5 minutes on each side, until a rich brown.
Drain on paper towel and serve at once.

*After it is grated I put the pulp in a J cloth (sturdy paper cloth) and then squeeze the stuffing out of it. The drier the pulp the crisper the latke will be.


Matzoh Meal Pancakes (kremlach)

2 eggs
1 level tsp salt
1 level tsp superfine sugar
2/3 cup of warm water
6 level tbsp fine matzoh meal

Beat the eggs and 2 tablespoons of the water until thick.
Gradually, add the meal and the sugar and enough additional water to make a thick batter that just drops from the spoon.
Fry in oil 1/4 inch thick or a mixture of 1/4 cup butter and 1 tbsp of oil until golden and puffy.
Turn and cook the other side.
Serve hot off the pan plain or with cinnamon sugar.

Serves 4

These 2 recipes came from an Evelyn Rose cookbook.


I made this today to go with tomorrow's latkes. It was easier and quicker than I thought it would be.


CHUNKY CINNAMON APPLESAUCE

2 pounds sweet or tart cooking apples
1/4 cup ( 1/2 stick) butter
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 to 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, or to taste

Peel, halve and core apples. Cut them into thin wedges or slices. Heat butter in large, heavy, deep saute pan or flameproof casserole. Add
apples and saute over medium-high heat, turning pieces over from time to time, 2 minutes or until they are coated with butter. Add lemon juice.
Cover tightly and cook over low heat, stirring often, about 20 minutes or until apples are very tender.

Stir in cinnamon and 4 tablespoons sugar. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until mixture is thick and nearly all liquid in pan evaporates.
Taste and add more sugar if desired. Heat briefly to dissolve sugar.
Serve warm or cold.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

French Market in the rain

After going to a German Market in the town several months ago, the photos are here,I couldn't wait to go to the French one. Sadly, it was raining so the photos might not be that great.

I was hoping that there would be a great olive stall but there wasn't one. It shared tables with other bits and pieces but I did buy.











Tis the Fromage Man!!














A stall where you can learn your onions.










Biscuit (cookie) stall









Pain Stall














The Bonbon (candy) Stall










These continental markets appear to be very popular especially before X-mas. I just wish that there were more choices. There is supposedly a Gala Weekend in Hitchin this weekend so I might go and see what's going on. I am also on a quest for kosher vegetarian burgers.

Live from Germany: The Jewish Service Heard Around the World

My cousin sent me this.

With Hanukkah fast approaching I thought that this would be appropriate to post.

Hanukkah means 'Dedication' and we should never forget our past.