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Can Holiday Parties Reduce The Stress Of The Season?

Every year, there are those who feel that the “stress” of the holidays is just too much!  Really…this is the time of year to come together with friends and family and revel in the season, not jump on the band wagon of  “woe is me, I am just soooo busy  to possibly enjoy anything!…blah, blah, blah!  Whatever! (those are the ones who create their own stress!)  I’ve made a point to “analyze” the guests at my fifteen holiday events in December, and after only five, I have reached my conclusion…holiday parties make folks feel good! Period!  Granted there is planning, and logistics, and a bit of work, but in the end, it is worth it!  I have never had a client in my nine years of business ever say that all of the planning and work that went into a great party, was not worth it, not one!  Parties lend themselves to fun, togetherness, love, community…I could go on.  So take the initiative to be the one who helps reduce stress by either  hosting your own holiday party or getting up off of the sofa and attending as many as you possible can…you just may be surprised at how fun parties can be.

Why Thanksgiving is Important

My wife’s favorite time of year is Thanksgiving, wouldn’t it be great if more folks shared this sentiment?  Most think it is a “special” day to get their Christmas list together and “shop, shop, shop, shop, shop, shop, shop, shop, shop”, which has replaced the Fa La La La La La La La La!  The majority of Americans couldn’t tell you what it’s all about…in the fall of 1621, less than 6 months after their arrival in America, more than half of the original Pilgrims had either died of disease of starvation, so to give thanks to God for his bounty,  the first Thanksgiving was celebrated.  I think it would behoove the majority of Americans to redirect their feeling towards gratitude this holiday season rather than the long lines at the mall…all of that materialistic STUFF will be there later, your friends and family may not!

Great Cookbook, well not really a cookbook, more of a culinary reference publication…

Although this particular book has been around since 2008, it still resonates with all true culinarians.  Dornenburg also wrote Culinary Artistry, which, I guess would be called an abridged prequel.  Both fantastic, The Flavor Bible take it to a new level of information with regards to pairing foods that are natural flavor matches.  Chocolate and coffee or hazelnuts, naturally, but chocolate and lemon…or ginger…perhaps even violets…it works!  There are hundreds of foods listed and thousands of flavor matches listed, virtually any item you can come up with, it’s there with numerous matches, so find a used copy out there and take your cooking creativity to places you, and especially, your friends, never knew you were capable of…

Who Would  Have Thought That A Chore To Most, Could Be Good For You!

Cooking can decrease stress…how  you may ask, because cooking involves all of our senses: the vibrant colors of fresh tomatoes,  the velvety texture  of butter lettuce, the sound of a searing tenderloin, the smell of crispy bacon, and last but not least, the flavors, oh the flavors we taste…perhaps it is these sensory cues that take us to another place, a quieter place, into a visceral moment, not thinking, just feeling.  When we engage is something that is creative, fun and inspiring, our mind is able to roam, slow down and escape stress.  That is where the magic happen!  You are creating something from scratch, something tangibly necessary to life, and something that offers immediate gratification (could that be the final goal?… in this society of now, now, now?)  Never…we do it for the moment, the peace, the  basic simplicity, and finally, the flavors we experience…now bid stress adieu and cook, cook, cook…