[Your Spirit] 4
Want to give back? Discover ways to make a difference in your neighborhood, your city, the country and the world.
[Your Body] 5
Schedules are hectic this time of year, but you can still make time to exercise.
[Your Food] 6
Cooking for 1, 2 or a few on Thanksgiving Day? Here are some tasty alternatives to the big spread.
[Your Mind] 12
Balance, moderation and health are the three principles of The Zaftig Life. Start incorporating these elements in your life today.
Welcome to the premiere issue of The Zaftig Life E-zine!
The Zaftig Life is all about balance, moderation and health. Each time you visit this site, the blog or the e-zines, you will find encouragement and information to help you eat well (making smart choices, minus the deprivation), move your body more, and love and live life more fully.
The purpose of The Zaftig Life movement (because that is precisely what you have joined) is to encourage your physical, emotional and spiritual health. My goal is to help you recognize and reconnect with the incredible beauty that lies within you.
I am beyond excited to bring you this e-zine as one more step in the direction of a holistic approach to your life. I am honored that you have chosen to join me on this journey.
Have a blessed holiday. Be steeped in gratitude!
Whether you feel moved to help others but don't know where to begin, or you're a longtime volunteer looking to help a new organization, here are some wonderful ways to get started:
Dining for Women
Volunteers host monthly potluck dinner. They then send their "dining out" dollars to programs that empower women. www.diningforwomen.org
Dress For Success
They give women providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools. www.dressforsuccess.org.
Not sure which organization is a good fit for you? Find a charity on www.volunteermatch.org.
The holiday hustle and bustle kicks into full gear on Black Friday. As your to-do list grow, it's easy to feel as if there isn't enough time to hit the gym.
Here are some ways to sneak in a workout and keep holiday heft at bay.
At work Opt for the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Use your lunch break to go for a walk. The fresh air and exercise will help you manage stress.
At the store Park far away from the entrance. Going to a particular store in the mall? Park on the opposite side of the mall and speed walk. Ditch the escalator and the elevators and hit the stairs to get to the shops upstairs.
At home Do squats while folding clothes. Place your feet hip-width apart and do toe raises while you wash dishes. For a workout that is sure to give you a lift, alternate between the toe raises and tightening your butt.
During this time of year, there is no shortage of Web sites, magazines, books and TV shows with step-by-step tips to help you make a huge Thanksgiving Day feast.
Recipes that explain how to brine and roast 25-pound turkeys while you make a veritable vat of mashed potatoes large enough to feed a small army abound and that information is helpful for many home cooks. But there are lots of people who cook on a much smaller scale during the holidays.
Single people and small families want fabulous food, too. So here are some ideas for delicious and simple alternatives to eating out or making a gigantic spread next Thursday.
Thanksgiving on a Bun
I had this last year for Thanksgiving. My best friend told me he would cry if he was alone on a holiday. I was fortunate in that I had the option to spend the day with family and friends. But alone time and introspection was exactly what I needed. Well, that and this sandwich. Customize your sandwich and add whatever Thanksgiving Day flavors you love.
Thanksgiving Day Sandwich
Kaiser roll
Roasted turkey breast
Stove Top Stuffing, prepared
Mashed Potatoes (yukon gold or sweet, seasoned)
Cranberry sauce (whole or jellied, whatever you prefer)
Gravy (if desired)
Heat a cast iron skillet. Slice roll and place cut side down in the pan to toast the bread. (This will add a nice texture to each bite and help your sandwich stay together better when you add your layers of flavor.) When bread is golden brown, remove from pan. Add Thanksgiving Day flavors of your choice. Serve with a large green salad.
Thanksgiving for two (or a few)
On the Menu: Cornish Game Hens (or, if you are a vegetarian, a harvest loaf) with Pomegranate-Shallot Jam, Crispy Smashed Potatoes, and dinner rolls. (I'm partial to Sister Schubert's. Look for them in the freezer section. They're almost as good as my maternal grandmother's rolls and that is saying a lot!) For dessert? Pick up a few treats from your favorite bakery for a sweet, simple finish.
Pomegranate-Onion Jam
2 tablespoons salted butter
1 small onion, sliced very thin
2 cups pomegranate juice
1/4 cup honey
Place butter and onion in a skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently. Lower heat if onion starts to brown too quickly or too much. When the onion is caramelized completely, add juice, honey and increase heat.
Cook until liquid has reduced and the pomegranate-onion mixture is the consistency of jam. Serve with roasted hen. (Store leftover jam covered in the refrigerator for up to five days. It is great on sandwiches.)
Roasted Cornish Game Hen
Cornish hen (one per person)
1/4 cup Olive oil
Kosher salt (to taste)
Fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
1 sprig of thyme
1 bay leaf
4 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
chopped onion
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse the hen inside and out. Pat dry with paper towel and place in a shallow baking dish that has been coated with non-stick cooking spray. Rub olive oil over the bird. Season with salt and pepper, inside and out. Place bay leaf and garlic in each hen. Stuff as much of the onion as you can in the hen. Any remaining onion can be placed under the hen in the baking dish. Roast for approximately 30-40 minutes. If you want the hen to be more brown, increase heat to 400 degrees for the last 10 minutes of cooking
Tip: As with turkeys, cornish hens are usually frozen when you buy them, so be sure to buy them a day or two in advance. Place them on a plate and thaw in the refrigerator.
Crispy Smashed Potatoes
8-10 baby red potatoes
2 + 1 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with at least an inch of water. Add salt to the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook the potatoes until very tender, about 30 minutes.
Check to make sure they are done, but not overdone. Place paper towels on the counter. Using a slotted spoon, remove them from the water, and let them drain on the paper town for a few minutes.
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Using the back of a large spoon and the palm of your hand, press down on each potato, flattening them so they are about 1/2 inch thick. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and coat with non-stick cooking spray. Place the smashed potatoes on the prepared sheet and allow to come to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sprinkle the potatoes with 1 teaspoon salt and pour the olive oil over them. Lift each potato to allow oil to spread under them. Roast the potatoes until theyre crispy and browned around the edges, about 35 to 40 minutes, turning over once gently with a spatula or tongs halfway through cooking. Serve hot.
The Zaftig Life was founded upon three essential principles: Balance. Moderation. Health. Without those elements in our lives, we are left to languish in and to focus on extremes. When we don't keep extremes in check, it is common to feel overwhelmed by frustration and disappointment. But if we love completely and live balanced lives, we stand to gain fulfillment and clarity on our life's purpose. There are many things you can do to incorporate moderation, balance and overall health in your life.
Clean As You Go. Keep everything in its place and organized so that you dont have to waste time sorting through documents or cleaning up a large mess. Clear out that junk drawer in the kitchen. Throw away things you don't need. Wash as you cook, too. Besides leaving more free time after the meal is over, you wont have to battle greasy, stinky, stuck-on messes later.
Steer Away From Lines. Shop during off-peak hours or online. The busiest time to hit the grocery store is right after work. Go midday or late in the evening instead.
Map Out Your Errands. Try to run your errands at the same time. Start with the one that is farthest away and work your way back home. Youll save yourself the headache, time and gas of running an errand a day.
Bulk Up Your Freezer. Pick a day to fix all of your meals for the week and pop them into the freezer. Check out meal assembly franchises, or get together with a group of girlfriends so you can simplify the process and make it fun.
