Dear Friends,

    Happy Holidays! 'Tis the season for giving and getting. Keeping the balance between the two is the dance of life. If the holiday season tires you out it’s time to take a break. You may not want to or be able to step completely out of the craziness, but it’s good to remember to enjoy yourself.  Because I live near the mountains, this time of year I take time to ski with my family and friends. Rather than fighting the crowds at the mall everyday I like to bake holiday breads for gifts. My favorite is Chocolate Bread, it’s a simple artisan loaf embedded with lots of dark chocolate.
    Good, bad or boring, holidays are memorable because they are touchstones in our lives. Balance tradition with the new and you’re making a conscious affirmation to continue the practice in the rest of your life for the year to come.
    This month I’m sharing with you my Gingerbread Cookie recipe that has become our family tradition. I notice that my recipe list is weighted towards the desserts! Looking for my own kind of balance, I’ve included a link to a YouTube video that my daughter Isabella and I helped Elliot Sawyer make. A sarcastic High Fructose Corn Syrup ad, Elliot used this clip along with others to secure a grant that enables him to continue filming his nutrition pieces. We loved being part of a creative project that reflects our values and beliefs about nutrition.

Live Happy!

Cristina